Sorry for the long post but it can be hard to keep up with this thread what with work and life.
Not Warhammer vampires, even if she could find a genuine crucifix and see it as more than a macabre charm of some gruesome proscribed cult.
I am unsure whether regular hammers work for that actually. I think they have to be specifically holy symbols though. Like, you can't just use any chalice and claim it's a holy symbol of the Lady, it has to specifically be made to be a holy symbol.
The Warp goes beyond Mallus though. I just don't think that a random crucifix that Mathilde happens to hold towards a Warhammer Vampire would do much, due to Mathilde's lack of possible intent, due to how Vampires are different, and due to how even in popular perception a Vampire's own faith and believes can often matter regarding their vulnerability to holy symbols in situations where said symbols don't have direct divine backing.
The Vampires of Warhammer are interesting in that they have issues with the symbols of some gods but not others. Morr's power first and foremost along with his symbols are the most damaging to them but their issues with Sigmar and his symbols and power partly has to do with them running the hell away when Sigmar beating the stuffing out of Nagash and the first Necromancer cursed them for their corwardness with a weakness to the Hammer and his symbols. This has since mixed with the fact that Sigmar ascended to become a god to mean that his symbols and power burn the hell out of most Vampires more effectively then every god but Morr himself. The rest of the human gods symbols having a effect depends on the Vampire in question and what they were before they were turned and what they have done after they gain a dependence on human blood.
"Wonderful news my beloved birdfriend acolyte! I have a most cunning test devised for you!"
Bird man might be making plans but remember this is a rescue mission slash heist and those are the domain of our boss slash friend in the warp. I am willing to believe to god of gamblers has the advantage when things depend on the roll
Norscans are common sights at every northern port. Marienburg's fortunes were built on a foundation of Norscan fur and amber. The Gospodar were Chaos-worshipping steppe nomads before they converted to the Ancient Widow and founded Kislev, and they currently have Kurgans in their military. This is not 40k and the situation is not as black and white as you are portraying.
The Vampires of Warhammer are interesting in that they have issues with the symbols of some gods but not others. Morr's power first and foremost along with his symbols are the most damaging to them but their issues with Sigmar and his symbols and power partly has to do with them running the hell away when Sigmar beating the stuffing out of Nagash and the first Necromancer cursed them for their corwardness with a weakness to the Hammer and his symbols. This has since mixed with the fact that Sigmar ascended to become a god to mean that his symbols and power burn the hell out of most Vampires more effectively then every god but Morr himself. The rest of the human gods symbols having a effect depends on the Vampire in question and what they were before they were turned and what they have done after they gain a dependence on human blood.
So they say. The Dolgan probably have a bear spirit they could upgrade to a god and claim to have solely worshipped if they wanted to get along with the Empire, too.
Boss while I agree with the point you are making I would like to point out that the Gospador left the Great Steppe and traveled to Old World because they refused to serve the Four as the other Tribes came to and were looking for a place that was both free of their power and would give. Them saying they are cousins to the Kurgan does not mean they were just another group of Kurgan more then 1,000 years ago but simple had the same origins on the Steppes as them, a common ancestor group if Also the Gospador were very much a enemy of the Northern provinces of the Empire when they came over the High Pass and there was much conflict with them for a long time before the borders "stabilized" and the two sides started coming to accords. The Empire would not have eventually come to the point of making Allies with Kislev if it was clear they were Chaos tainted from the start. Parts of the Empire may trade with the Southern tribes of Norsca but they know that a Norscan is as likely to be coming to kill you as he is to trade with you. The level of trust that the Heirs of of Sigmar have in the Kislevites is much greater then for their old enemies north across the sea and for good reason.
I would also say that it's not a bad idea if we go and talk to Yusak Tribe because we came to scout not make deals. We could go and talk to the tribe that has fallen out with the four and are looking for a place to go which could make them useful to use in ways the Dolgan would try to kill us for bringing up because they are desperate. The Yusak might a fulcrum we could turn very much in your favor is we are smart. Though that does presuppose that they are not trying to get back in the Four's "good graces" right now though even if they were we could use that. It might be a gamble but in my mind the best choice is to try and get more information on how things stand right now
[X] Seek to make contact with the Yusak instead
No, she can't fly, so would have to ride, so the Dolgans would know she did.
Chaos 101. You go on a pilgrimage to gain the favour of the Gods. Punishing those the Gods have turned their backs on is also a great way to gain the favour of the Gods. Being able to dunk on a disfavoured tribe while pilgrimaging would be a huge stroke of luck, and would be seen as divine providence and a clear message of what the Gods want you to do.
It's not like ducking through a room, it's crossing a territory the size of a province, one that she now knows for sure includes people who can see magic.
[X] Seek passage and supplies for the Expedition
And looking like we're trying to look like we're not going to see the Yusak will make us seem infinitely more suspicious.
So would I be right in saying that we could not use your shadow magic to pass unseen be the Dolgan after this meeting. Also if the Dolgan lands are as big as say Hochland then the chances we would run in to this same group of people again would a slim one. Even if we ran into a different Shaman how would they know we are the person who talked to the Ghur Shaman unless we tell them. Is it because he would remember our disguise and tell others to be on the look out for us.
Also just what do we look like to the Wind of Beasts user if I might ask? Plus considering he said he serves the Untamed of the Eight does that mean we have to worry about running in to Sayl the faithless because that sounds like a title the Kurgan would give him and he does lead the Dolgan for a time?
You don't have to go all the way to elven parables to find wind worshiping. The Druids who became the Jade Order were 'Shamans' of the Green Wind before Teclis, only they did not perceive it as Wind but as the Green Mother because unlike the Kurgans they could not see it as a distinct stream of power howling overhead.
The Earth or Green mother is implied to be a god of the humans that lived in the Riek basin before the Tribes that would form the Empire arrived in the old worlds from what was becoming the Dark Lands in the RPG,
though, so saying they were worshipping a wind is a bit much when Teclis started working with them. It would also give perspective on their connection to the Priesthood's of Taal and Ryha. Whether the Winds are gods or just fickle streams of power flowing out of the holes in reality at the poles seems to be something that would be clear to Mathilde One way or the other as she knows what the divine looks like.
This was the case very briefly before I remembered that the timeline didn't add up (Asarnil was banished shortly after Karag Dum was lost) and edited it so he had just heard about them. But yes, he has worked for Dwarves before.
(there's a certain bitter irony to the fact that the Dwarves are willing to deal with Asarnil because he was disavowed by the Phoenix King for being a hero without permission, but the War of the Beard happened because the Phoenix King wouldn't disavow the followers of Malekith)
The thing is the High Elfs did disavow the attacks on the dwarfs as not being their actions and before the Dwarf ambassadors got to Ulthuan their were already dwarfs killing High Elf's for what they thought had happened.
Malekith use his deep knowledge of the dwarfs and both sides prejudices against them to kick of the conflict. Asarnil was not banished because he did the "right thing" , He was banished because he disobeyed direct orders from the Phoenix King and up thousands of Elf lives at risk because they expect him to take the field with Finubar's army and he did not show. His pride prevented him from acknowledging that he put others at risk by charging of with out Letting the King now why and the Elf noted for his diplomatic skill and willingness to work with humans and rebuild ties with the dwarfs was force to banish him. It is still his pride that prevents him from going back and bowing to the Phoenix throne as Finubar is not one to hold a grudge and would welcome him back. Remember pride is the flaw of Caladorians when it comes to the Elves and the Dragon Rides are the most prideful of all.
So the thing is, we can't conceal the fact that there will be some kind of group passing through if we want safe passage. That said, literally everything else about it we can lie, misdirect, and plant false information (both in the event of betrayal and to generally have the gossip about "the group that shadow wizard mentioned might be coming through" be info that will misdirect our enemies to our benefit)
The best kind of deception is one where the victim thinks they're getting one over you - so anything we "let slip" in the way of inferences that could be made would be ideal and Mathilde has plenty of experience with this from what I recall.
Hey we're pro-Ranald - tzeentch can be a secret aspect of ranald if it asks nicely.
We could not hide the passage of the large group we are going to be moving with I agree but has anyone thought about how we are going to hide the knightly Templar's we are being along because I am pretty sure the Kurgan have some basic knowledge of the Iconography of the followers of Ulric. So we will be hard pressed to make them look like servants of the Four.
Well, the only Kurgan shaman I'm immediately aware of from canon is Sayl the Faithless. He's got the same magic rating on tabletop as a Prophetess or standard Battle Wizard Lord, and can cast from both Azyr and Ulgu.
Now, he would qualify under 'occasional legendary figure', but his backstory does state that he's defeated rivals who were more powerful than him, so he's apparently not an exemplary when it comes to magical ability among the Kurgan.
He is also a full Chaos sorcerer and has been for a long time so a Mono-wind Shaman he is not. As well as being heavily mutated such that he only has one Eye and one normal hand.
Damn Brits, stealing the credit for millennia-old strategies.
