Campaign Introduction and Session 1: A Chance Meeting in Oldenlitz

Before we get into the actual gaming, a quick summary of the materials I'm using. 

For now I'm just using the core 4E rules book without any of the extra rules from supplements such as Up In Arms. Early on in character creation I decided to use the simplified money rules (so no keeping track of individual amounts). In the first couple of sessions I also decided to simplify a couple of other aspects, but I'll elaborate on those as we go. I'm intentionally going to avoid anything with magic for the foreseeable future, until I've got the core rules ironed out in my mind.

In terms of lore, these first chapters will focus on Nordland, Middenland and the Laurelorn forest in the Northern Empire, in the year IC 2522 (so several years after the 'canon ending' of the Enemy in Shadows). As a result I'm primarily drawing from the 4E books: Archives of the Empire Vol 1, Middenheim: City of the White Wolf and The Forest of Hate mini-campaign. I'm also referring to the fan-made 2E Defenders of the Forest supplement.

The solo aspect of the game will entirely be handled using Mythic 2nd Edition.

The plan is for each 'Chapter' to be a single arc using one single player character, with each 'Book' consisting of multiples chapters and therefore multiple PC's linked in a single overarching story. Each chapter will have multiple 'Scenes' (using the terminology from Mythic), which will be treated as broadly equivalent to WFRP 'Sessions' (for the purposes of restoring Fortune and acquiring XP). If I find these means I'm refreshing fortune points too often I may change that to every few scenes, or every few days.

Key to Annotations:

• Main Text
  

• GM Emulator (mostly Mythic) 

• WHFRP 4^th Gameplay 

• Custom Rules Notes 

•  Out of character 'GM notes'.

• ~ Homebrew lore (relevant, 'recent events' or where I've explicitly contradicted something). ~
  

•  Strikethrough, roll ignored in favour of another option (usually Mythic rolls which I don't like).

 So without further ado let us begin..

SESSION THOUGHTS

When I started this campaign I had some loose ideas of a wider regional story and a few key events (which I won’t spoil here). But for this first session I basically choose a random Nordland town on the edge of the Laurelorn and worked from there. A few Mythic questions, a stereotypical fantasy tavern and an unusual group of NPC’s, and I had the makings of a story opening. In terms of gameplay I was still learning the WFRP ruleset so I stuck with simple checks (i.e. no worrying about Success Levels). The session is also a fair bit shorter than some later ones.

CHAPTER 1, SCENE 1 – PC: Aelladen

PC Introduction: AELLADEN of the LAURELORN

Aelladen started life as a Eonir (Laurelorn Wood Elf) bounty hunter, but then got converted to a Ghost Strider when I found the career option in Archives of the Empire Vol. 1. I followed a mix of player choice and  random rolls when creating the character. For thematic reasons I also gave him an Elven Bow and Arrows, even though they were not listed as starting Trappings.

Aelladen is an Eonir Forest Ranger (Lvl. 1 Ghost Strider). Although relatively young for an elf, he has spent many years travelling the forests of the Old World. Most of this has been spent in the Northern reaches of the Empire around the borders of Laurelorn forest, but he has travelled as far as the Averland in the South and the edge of Kislev. Unlike many elven Ghost Striders (and Eonir in general), he recognises the need to work alongside humans and often spends time in Imperial settlements under the guise of a guide or tracker for hire. For the past ten years he has been away from Laurelorn, mainly in the Southern Empire.  The story begins as he arrives at the lake-town of Oldenlitz, seeking employment, newly returned to the region.

Setup: Aelladen approaches the small town of Oldenlitz. It is early evening, just after golden hour and a dark clouds loom on the horizon.

Lists: None.

Chaos: 5

14^th Vorgeheim (Before-Mystery), IC 2522

Oldenlitz, Nordland.

You approach along the causeway towards the heavy oaken gates of Oldenlitz. They have been drawn shut and cast long shadows across the road. A watchman shouts down from the gate.

“Who goes there?”

              Have you been here before (50/50)? No.

Although you have been here before, your last visit was likely before the vast majority of the current inhabitants were born. You respond.

“I seek shelter from the storm friend, your lord will know me.”

Charm (Difficult) = 02, Pass.

The guard squints down at you suspiciously, but then shrugs and calls for the gate to be opened. He greets you as you pass through.

“Sorry, you can’t be too careful these days, especially with your kind” he checks himself “No offense intended,” he add hurriedly. “I fought with you, well your people, at the Battle of the Splintered Pines.” He smiles. “Well I’m sure you know where your going, I’d best leave you to it.” He nods farewell and returns to the gatehouse. You continue on, without pressing him for information about his comments.

The small town lies before you. It’s streets are narrow and winding, and unusually quiet. A handful of locals passing along the main avenue glance at you curiously. This close to the borders of the Laurelorn Forest your kind, whilst not exactly common, are not unfamiliar.

Have you history/unfinished business with anybody that you know to live/expect to meet in this town (50/50)? 70 = No.

You head to the main tavern on the central street. A tattered wooden sign hangs above the door with a crude drawing of a foreign warrior wielding a golden staff. Above the door the worn writing was just about legible – the Indan Spear. You push inside. The bar is crowded. As you enter a brief hush falls over the room as a number of patrons glance at you.

Does anybody show particular attention (50/50)? 42 = yes.

Most soon turn away, but one group seems more interested than the rest.

How many (D4)? 4. A mixed group (Likely)? Yes

Identities (D6): State Troops, Mercenaries, Private Guard, Rogues, Eonir, Asur.

1 Asur, 2 Mercenaries. 1 State Troop

Do you recognise anyone (50/50)? 82 = no.

One of the group, a tall Imperial officer, beckons you over. Curious you walk over. As you approach you study the four.

The Imperial is clad in black and navy with a ragged yellow headband - the colours of the Nordland Forest Guard. He looks old, for a human, his scruffy beard white and face lined and weathered. Beside him sit two mercenaries, clearly brother and sister and, judging by their bronzed skin and southern style clothing, foreigners. Yet neither looked as out of place as the final figure. A female elf, yet not a fellow Eonir, not even an Asrai wanderer.

‘What in the gods was an Asur doing in this Imperial backwater?’

“Please, have a seat,” the Imperial draws up another chair and gestures towards it.

He introduces himself as Captain Sebastian Hopf of the Nordland Forest 3^rd Battalion. With him are two Estalian mercenaries of the Golden Helms Myrmidian sellsword company. Finally, he introduces Morial, of Ulthuan. She nods to you, somewhat coldly.

What does he want to talk about? Guide, Inside; Re-roll, Bestow, Leadership.

Hopf explains that Lord Ostwin Gausser, son of Elector Count Theodoric is looking for a guide to take him into the woods on a hunting expedition. He recognised you as a native of the forest. A great bear has been stealing livestock and Guasser wants it’s pelt. – New Thread: The Hunt. Noticing your querying look at his companions he waves a hand dismissively.

“Fellow mercenaries.”

Intuition (Average) = 86, Fail.

You nod, accepting his word. The two Estalians are talking amongst themselves in their foreign tongue, clearly rather drunk. The elf meanwhile watches you intently.

“…and of course you’ll be paid well.” You hurriedly return your attention to Hopf.

You nod in acceptance of the invitation. It is not the first noble you have taken on such an excursion, and you are intrigued by the female elf.

“Excellent. I will inform my lord that I have found him a guide. We can leave tomorrow with the dawn,” he climbs to his feet and warmly shakes your hand, before making for the door.

“You are to join tommorrow?” You turn to Morial. She nods, shrugging a little, before also rising to her feet. 

"Until tomorrow, then…” you murmur to yourself as she walks away.

End Scene.

List Maintenance:

New Characters: Captain Sebastian Hopf, Morial of Ulthuan, the unnamed Golden Helms, Lord Ostwin Gausser, Elector Count Theodoric Guasser.

New Threads: The Bear Hunt. 

Primary Thread: The Bear Hunt.

Chaos: -1 (4).

XP: +20