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The Enemy Within (WHF Witch Hunter Quest)

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It'd be rare to see an actual ugly female vampire that's horrifying to look at, showing the exact reason why vampirism sucks, no pun intended.
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Laughing in mockery but also vindication as all the weaklings and cowards with their Lahmian girl bosses are burned by the Witch Hunters while I am carried to safety in the very strong arms of my executive bread winning Strigoi wife.
 
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[X] Visit the Shallyans
[X] Track down your other comrades
[X] Contact the Smugglers
[X] Contact the Watch

The more witnesses we have to the summoning circle, and other unholy things we find, the harder it will be for the court to dismiss our case. All the better if we track the exact place at which the circle was made.
 
So looking at things.

Spatin took a Minor Infection, Adhema took a Festering Wound and Ozzy got the Bloody Flux. (You know. Aside from the latter two getting reduced to zero wounds in the fight).

The Minor Infection incubates for 1d10 and has a similar 1d10 duration. It inflicts Lingering (Easy), Malaise and Wounded.
A Festering Wound has an incubation of 1d10 days, lasts 1d10 days and has the following sympthoms: Fever, Lingering (Challenging), Malaise, Wounded.
Bloody Flux is the worst of the lot. 2d10 incubation, 1d10 duration and results in Flux (Severe), Lingering (Challenging), Fever, Malaise, Nausea.

Lingering: After the duration expires attempt an endurance test based on the difficulty of Lingering. If a minor failure add 1d10 to duration, if a failure add a Festering Wound, if a major failure add Blood Rot. As with Fever, only 10% of medicines are genuine. In addition, the medicine needs to be taken on the correct day depending on the medicine taken. To figure that out you need a successful Heal test.
Malaise: Apply Fatigue condition until the disease is gone. Most medicine is genuine (75%), but only suppresses the condition on the day that it is taken.
Wounded: Prevents you from getting back a Wound for each stacking wounded condition. Take a Easy (+20) Endurance Test every day per Wounded sympthom and gain a Festering Wound if you fail.
Fever: -10 to all fellowship tests, if Severe then completely bedridden (apply unconscious status). Only 10% of cures work (as long as it is not Severe no medicine works for that). If you're lucky to get working medicine? You need to pass a Challenging (+0) endurance test to get rid of it.
Flux: GM can make you shit yourself X number of times per session depending on severity (3 times for Severe), toughness decides how long you have to find a toilet. Take one Wound every time you shit as you bowels explode in a spectacular fashion. 10% of medicine works. If you got working medicine you can merely delay the Flux from coming for X hours equal to your toughness bonus.
Nausea: Already explained by Maugan. You get stunned when you fail a physical test. Medicine has a 60% chance of working. If it does (Challenging Endurance Test) it only suppresses the condition for hours equal to you toughness bonus.
 
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For those curious about the Blood Rot condition.

Blight, Fever (Severe), Malaise.
Incubation: Instant.
Duration: 1d10 days.
Treatment: None.

Only new one here is Blight. Which means you Test Endurance every day. The test is Very Easy (+60) for normal severity, Easy (+40) for moderate severity, and Average (+20) for severe severity.

You fail the test? You instantly die.
 
[x] Pray for Guidance
Return to the High Temple of Sigmar and spend some time praying for your god's guidance. It will help to clear and focus your mind, and if the agents of the arch-enemy truly are at work here, you will be well served to fortify your soul to face them.

[x] Visit the Mourner's Guild
The bodies of Kuftsos and Gottri both bore similar wounds. Speak with the local Morrites and see if there have been others who died in similar fashion, and what pattern or information can be discerned if so.

[x] Track down your other comrades
Spätin and Friedrich proved themselves capable enough in the sewers, and they may also be in danger. Seek them out and see if they are willing to assist you again, with testimony or direct action.

[x] Find alternate accommodation
If someone is going after your allies, you do not wish to expose Josef to any further danger by remaining aboard his barge. Find a room at an inn or other accommodation, and warn him of the potential risks of remaining in town.
 
SonofMelonHead said:
The more witnesses we have to the summoning circle, and other unholy things we find, the harder it will be for the court to dismiss our case. All the better if we track the exact place at which the circle was made.
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Do keep in mind that 9 out of 10 cultists tend to go down in a blaze of glory rather than go to court.

Maybe the quality of cultists goes up with their social rank, but we should also expect some half corked ritual fueled more by bravado than brains.
 
Warmachine375 said:
To be fair, has there been a female vampire who isn't a looker in Warhammer Fantasy? Most of them are from the Lahmian bloodline and the only other known female vampire was Isabella von Carstein.

It'd be rare to see an actual ugly female vampire that's horrifying to look at, showing the exact reason why vampirism sucks, no pun intended.
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Isabella von Carstein does look pretty horrifying to me when she's not trying to hide what she is same as Vlad but some people are in to horrifying to look at undead monsters who are hiding what they really are which I find confusing to say the least.


[X] Visit the Shallyans
[X] Track down your other comrades
[X] Find alternate accommodation
[X] Visit Father Sigiwalt

All of the things we can do could help us but we know our enemies know we are hunting them and they are trying to kill our Witness and hide as best they can. We need to make sure our evidence stays alive and that we continue to investigate our targets. Talking with the Sister of Shallya in charge of the Temple and the treatment of the others who where with us against the Daemon gives us a new angle on understanding the City. Talking to Father Zigiwalt is important because the a high Priest is in close enough to the people being investigated that he is not a impartial judge most likely.
 
[X] Plan: Damocles dagger
-[X] Contact the Smugglers
-[X] Track down your other comrades
-[X] Find alternate accommodation
-[X] Visit Father Sigiwalt

Instead of checking out the charities or doing forensics, we should look at the underground smuggling routes to see if the cults are trying to smuggle out illicit evidence now that we know they're cleaning house. I am fairly certain the charity stuff is legit anyway to act as a cover (I don't think even this cult is ballsy enough to pull off something as obvious as trying to hide demonic shit near a temple of Shallya) and we don't have enough evidence on the corpses to be useful for any trial people are saying will be happening soon, so let's not waste time on them.
 
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Maugan Ra said:
"Sigmar places obstacles in every man's path, and burdens upon every man's shoulder, yet so too does he give us the strength and conviction to rise above them," Edel says loftily as you walk, sweeping past the pews and the altar without a sideways glance. "My appointment to this position was made on merit, instead of length of service, and because I as a native of the town knew its character better than many other candidates. Alas, some among the existing clergy refuse to see that. They will be brought in line with time."

"Of course," you murmur, hiding a frown. A wise patron would have found this man somewhere safe and insignificant to establish his credibility, and only after a period of years pushed to favour his promotion. To place a relative novice in charge of the spiritual faith of all Bögenhafen is dangerously over-confident, and likely to ruin his career before too much longer. "A moment, if you would. I need to give my agent proper direction."
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People more charismatic and clever than me have made this point but yes: This guy definitely got his position by way of coin.
Maugan Ra said:
The interior of the office is almost entirely pitch black, the richly appointed room lit only by a thin sliver of light that sneaks in through the curtained windows, and for a moment you almost think it entirely deserted. Then a narrow silhouette shifts in the darkness and a raspy voice calls out to you.

"Please, come in and shut the door," it says, filled with pain and regret, "I beg your forgiveness for the darkness, but I have the most dreadful headache."

"A tad too much enthusiasm for the Schaffenfest, I see," Ludo Edel says with wry amusement, closing the door as bidden and plunging you all deeper into shadow, "My apologies for disturbing you, then, but I am afraid this cannot wait. My companion is Markus von Bruner, of the Holy Orders of Sigmarite Templars."

"A pleasure, I am sure," Councillor Teugen says in his raspy voice, a pale and boney hand emerging into the light for a moment to grasp at a crystalline glass filled with rich red liquid. "Johannes Teugen, head of the Bögenhafen town council. Please, sit, and tell me what brings you here. In a quiet voice, if you'd be so kind."
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It doesn't count as paranoia and jumping at shadows when everyone agrees with me. :V

And yet... would it really be a Vampire? The Midnight Aristocracy is usually no friend of the Ruinous Powers. Kill too many of their 'cattle', you see. And of likley is it the QM would introduce an entirely separate conspiracy in the middle of all this?



Oh god, it's End Times Isabella all over again. :p
Maugan Ra said:
"You are also a murderer," Teugen replies flatly, "Who gunned down Alexei Bueller, a respected merchant and personal acquaintance of mine, before the eyes of an entire village on charges of… well, none at all, as I recall. No charges, no trial, just your own judgement. Now you come to me pressing for the death of another merchant on the strength of that same judgement."
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Oh hey, how's that for a callback.
Maugan Ra said:
"And what of you, Templar?" the priest replies, a touch of venom in his tone as he straightens up and gestures to the corpse lying broken at your feet, "Herr Bueller was a well connected man, with rich relatives and powerful clients from here to Altdorf. When they find out that you executed him like this…"

You smile, grimly amused for reasons this man cannot hope to understand. "Then you will tell them that Markus von Bruner had their kinsman executed, and if they would like to protest the judgement, they will find more than one ally with a similar story awaiting them. All know where to find me."

He doesn't recognise the name or its significance, but then you hardly expected him to. Word of this day's events will get out sooner or later, though, and when it does those who move among your former social circles will hear of it before too long. You expect more than a few of them will curse your name or seek to turn it into a weapon against your long suffering family, but they've been doing that for years. The life of one well connected merchant will not tip the scales.
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And more poignantly, a reminder: Laws are nothing without people. Words on a page alone do not stop evil work.
Maugan Ra said:
"I assume he was correct, about this 'Bueller'?" Edel asks, tone more curious than annoyed.

"The man gave false testimony before Sigmar and sought to have a woman burned as a witch for refusing his advances," you say tersely, "I had every right to act as I did."
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But, I wonder, did the Order of Cleansing Flame ever follow up? Or was that empty threat seized upon as ammunition?
Maugan Ra said:
"I do, and in better times you would be right," Magirius allows, grimacing slightly at the reminder, "Alas, Bögenhafen's situation is rather unusual. We are not a free town, but neither are we entirely under the control of the nobility. Consequently, every significant decision the council commits to is the result of some considerable degree of politicking, and must be taken with a careful thought towards appearances."

"A regrettable state of affairs, but accurate," Edel confirms, dabbing at his lips with a napkin to clear away the juices from his meal, "As High Priest I have a seat on the council, and am expected to bring the concerns of all religious organisations within Bögenhafen to light. Yet I must also watch my words carefully, to avoid any implications of authority over my fellows. It can be a tiring dance, and a slow one."

"Working through the Ordo permits us to avoid such issues," Magirius picks up the thread of the conversation again, offering you a winning smile, "After all, I'm sure you would agree that it would be a great shame if the poor and needy were to be denied succour for such a petty reason."
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... Of course it's a Deep State. Small, local, but a Shadow Government nonetheless.
Maugan Ra said:
Oddly enough, Magirius seems entirely sincere. There is a touch of evasiveness when he mentions the ritual elements, but he clearly believes his own words about the Ordo's benevolent intent and law-abiding nature. If you had to guess, they're probably cribbing notes off foreign religious practices or the arcane rituals of the Colleges in order to add a touch of the exotic to their dealings. It wouldn't be the first or even the hundredth time groups of rich idiots have done something of the kind, and it is almost always more embarrassingly tacky than dangerous. Were it not for the daemon in the hidden shrine, you might have been inclined to take this one at face value and shrug it off as just another case of idiots with more money than good taste.
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The guy meant to speak to the outside is probably the one who's least connected. Can't give up under torture information he doesn't know. He genuinely doesn't know about whatever shady things have going on.

The bit of him being wary about the ritual stuff, that's definitely something worth running down. Chaos is all about giving out 'forbidden knowledge' or 'dark secrets'. You don't have to be born capable of wielding magic to be blessed by the Dark Gods or summon a Daemon with a ritual. That's why its called Sorcery, you are invoking the power of the Chaos Gods, not something you yourself hold.
 
[X] Visit the Shallyans
[X] Track down your other comrades
[X] Find alternate accommodation
[X] Visit Father Sigiwalt

I'll be honest, I know that "Track down" is a good vote anyways to secure more muscle and/or witnesses, but I just really want to see Spätin again. She's fun.

Definitely need to go to Father Sigiwalt because things seem like they'll start exploding soon and he's the one option we can guarantee isn't corrupted.

And for all that the Shallyans won't be able to do much to a serious "swords in the night" assassination attempt, having them on guard will make it harder to do it discretely. Plus, as people who need faith to cast divine spells, they're also less likely to be subverted.
 
Come to think of it, after we disrupt the meeting, do we go straight to court in the next update or will we have some time to investigate further?
 
[X] Visit the Shallyans
[X] Track down your other comrades
[X] Find alternate accommodation
[X] Visit Father Sigiwalt
 
@Jonny_boy
Not meaning to suggest we wait until then to investigate, that's just the date our case will be heard, and how much time we have to investigate. It's definitely true as you say they're trying to buy time to cover their tracks, so we gotta get to detecting real quick.
 
[X] Track down your other comrades
[X] Find alternate accommodation
[X] Visit Father Sigiwalt
[X] Visit the Mourner's Guild
 
Seven stars in the cult room, seven members of the inner circle, forty-two (seven times six) lower members of the Ordo. I feel like I'm losing my mind with all the Chaos numerology.
 
[X] Visit the Shallyans
[X] Track down your other comrades
[X] Find alternate accommodation
[X] Contact the Smugglers

I changed my vote from meeting with Father Sigiwalt now that we have more time than I thought. He likely isn't in the mood to meet us, so we better have some real solid evidence on hand to convince him to work with us before we go knock on his door.

To that end, I suggest going for our more time sensitive leads instead. The cult knows we found their pet daemon and ritual site, so I imagine they're in the process of cleaning that up right now.

That means we either have to inspect the bodies of the murdered victims (the bounty hunter and the dwarf) before the Morrites finish preparing them for burial, or we contact the Smugglers to hopefully catch the cultists in the act of disposing evidence.

Between the two, I think we have more to learn by contacting the smugglers. The objects the cult wants to dispose of will point us towards who wants them gone and how.
 
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[X] Visit the Shallyans
[X] Track down your other comrades
[X] Find alternate accommodation
[X] Contact the Smugglers
 
Maugan Ra said:
Markus tests Intuition, skill is 47, roll is 05, success with +4SL

Oddly enough, Magirius seems entirely sincere. There is a touch of evasiveness when he mentions the ritual elements, but he clearly believes his own words about the Ordo's benevolent intent and law-abiding nature. If you had to guess, they're probably cribbing notes off foreign religious practices or the arcane rituals of the Colleges in order to add a touch of the exotic to their dealings. It wouldn't be the first or even the hundredth time groups of rich idiots have done something of the kind, and it is almost always more embarrassingly tacky than dangerous. Were it not for the daemon in the hidden shrine, you might have been inclined to take this one at face value and shrug it off as just another case of idiots with more money than good taste.
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So, thinking like a Witchhunter, it makes perfect sense to keep one nice and naive member of the supposed inner circle blind to the order's true nature.

He even said that talking to outsiders is his specific job, so it's likely Magrius is the only inner circle member who believes the nice version of the Order's business, while all the others are already deep into Chaotic worship.
 
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