Entry 13: The 18th Day of the 3nd Month of the Second Year of the Third Millennium     I believe the "pride" of Marienburg are up to no good. They have sought out the nefarious Johann the knife and have hired an assassin to boot. Though I do not believe their intentions point against us, this does not speak well of their character. Once again, however, we will be accompanying them, for they have heard news of a wizard's mansion, and we will not pass up an opportunity for such knowledge.     We found the mansion and began a search when we began sensing presences nearby. A quick look around yielded glimpses of hidden, rat-like movements. We took up defensive positions and hid ourselves as well. We could see skaven approaching from multiple angles, and it was clear from their numbers that there were multiple warbands present.     Suddenly we were charged at the front gate, which our men were holding at ground level. A blast of magical warpfire knocked out a wardog and a center guardsman. We charged this force with our best and did little. Henri, Louis, and another wardog were taken out of action by this force. Fortunately, our allies above took out many of this band with missile fire, and a storm of knives from a shadowy figure in an upstairs window did great harm to the rats.     Serge also moved over to the main opening to help, but by this time we were beset from the other side as well. We engaged the enemy, but Jean, our last wardog, and ultimately Gaston were all taken out of action on this side. A blunderbuss shot from above did not damage its target, but it revealed two other hidden rats nearby - one of which was clearly knocked out by the blast and which looked almost more of a machine than an animal! Could this be the legendary Veskit?!     Serge continued to fight well, and our few remaining members fought off charges - even some climbing walls and coming in through windows! Fortunately, our temperament for battle proved stronger, for as Serge took out additional Skaven and our allies held up more than their end (for once) the rat-beasts fled into the shadows and did not return.     In taking stock of our situation, we found Henri with a smashed leg, though it appears to be nothing permanent. We found all three wardogs, and Henri was able to crawl near them and begin tending their wounds after we splinted his leg. Jean also had a badly bruised leg, so we splinted him as well, glad that the injuries did not appear to be permanent. Louis had just been knocked unconscious and was fine, but Gaston had suffered a deep chest wound, and Gillinin attended him - eventually proclaiming that he'd heal to an extent, but he'd never be quite the same. One of our two lost center guardsman had also been simply knocked unconscious, but our other one - along with the marksman who had been felled - were quite clearly dead.     This was a dark day for the Knights of Foucault. Never before had we taken such losses and sustained such injuries. We will not soon forget what these skaven have done to us, nor will we underestimate that of which they are capable in battle, for we found ourselves well matched - and more, on this day.     Our allies had done much of the searching, as their wounds were lighter, and they claimed the portion of the treasure in which they were interested. What was left was one large mandrake root, two pouches of healing herbs, and an overlooked tome of magick! This we will study in time. Our own search of the surrounding buildings yielded only 2 shards of wyrdstone, but also a group of prisoners, from which we were able to recruit a talented marksman to replace our loss.     We sold these 2 shards, plus 6 more for 110gc, which after paying Gillinin, left us with 5 shards and 182gc. We were able to find a blunderbuss for 30gc. Combined with equipment we had stored, this allowed us to equip the new marksman as a member of the Pendulum's Arm. Gaston and Jean - searching together - also found another fine quality warhorse. I authorized the purchase since they both seemed able to ride. This left us with 72gc.     Gaston has been seen practicing his pistol shooting skills while on horseback - a most interesting endeavor. Serge seems to be taking even more damage than he had, and Gillinin is holding back less with his bow.     After taking some time to heal we began tracking the skaven band that we believed included the legendary Veskit. Several days later, while many of our band were still healing, we found the skaven had stopped moving and were frequenting a specific area of town. This pleasant surprise was balanced by the fact that the "pride" of Marienburg had been tagging along with us once again.     We arranged with them to ambush the skaven on the following day when the rats were performing what appeared to be daily rituals in an open area. A group of Sisters wandering by appeared willing to join our cause against the filthy vermin, and so we three bands allied. Jean, Gaston, and Henri were still out healing, so we were shorthanded, but all seemed well as I had made sure the other Marienburgers were on the opposite side of the area from our band.     The skaven seemed to have word of our arrival, for just as we began to advance on their position, they fled quickly away from us - aiming to leave the area between the Sisters and the other Marienburgers. Another group of skaven had conveniently showed up to block the other Marienburgers, and so the skaven easily outran the Sisters and escaped. The only thing we saw in combat was a large rat sent to slow us down, though we did confirm a sighting of Veskit before the vermin fled beyond our catching.     During the battle Pierre stumbled across a shard of wyrdstone. Searching the area after the battle yielded another 4 shards. This area must have been very rich in the stuff - no wonder the skaven had been lingering here. We also found a hidden group of prisoners, from which we were able to recruit one member to augment the Pendulum's Arm.     We sold 8 shards of stone for 110gc, paid Gillinin, found and bought a blunderbuss, a shield, and a crossbow to equip the former prisoner (along with a hammer and helmet from our stock). This left us with 2 shards of stone and 102gc.     We took some extra time to talk to the shopkeepers and residents of this area, as we had not traveled it before. We found the name of the skaven band allied with Veskit to be the "Black Plague of the Claw", while the other skaven band that came to the rescue was named "Klaws of Fury" - an upstart band with arrogance to match the Marienburgers to whom they "appeared" in such close proximity in the battle.     The most important news of the day came from several shopkeepers and residents who had mentioned that a doctor of some skill was located in the area and who publicly professed loyalty to the Lady Magritte. We immediately had Jean and Gaston pay a visit to this doctor to look into their wounds. The bruised legs suffered by Jean and Henri had proved nothing more, but Jean still bore a nasty injury on his hand, and Gaston had a similar injury as well as his recently received chest wounds.     The doctor charged a fee of 20gc each to attempt treatment, and we gladly paid. He manipulated Jean's hand so roughly we thought he actually broke it, but in the end he appeared able to reset it to a more natural looking position. Jean's hand is in such pain that he will require another several days of healing, but we are hopeful as to the results. For Gaston, the doctor merely shook his head at the chest wound, but he tried for great lengths of time to manipulate the disfigured hand before giving up and saying he dared not try further or there would be too much blood loss and the possibility of breaking it outright. The doctor encouraged us to visit again in a few days, saying that he may yet be able to set Gaston's hand, while not healed of anything, walked out of the doctor's office no worse for the visit.     I have noticed that the members of the Life Guard have improved their skill with their swords. And I have been having greater trust in my hunches recently. My conversations with Gillinin, while quite different from those I had with Lenoloc, have still borne fruit, and I find my way of thinking altered for the good.     Some of my thoughts, however, have recently turned to the dubious and deceitful actions of the "pride" of Marienburg. Was it merely coincidence that Johann had missed the last battle, that the "Klaws of Fury" had shown up in such close proximity to our countrymen allowing our real target to escape with what we now believe to be a sizable cache of wyrdstone? Why do our countrymen employ both the nefarious Johann the Knife and an imperial assassin as their hirelings? And most of all, why have they been tagging along or otherwise contriving to have us join them in selected encounters over the last several weeks? I fear there is some manipulation going on here and that it is perhaps for a darker purpose.     My suspicions were borne out soon enough. After having successfully searched an area of town, finding seven shards of wyrdstone, we found ourselves beset by our countrymen on one side and by a band of cultists on the other side! The two must have coordinated their efforts and been in league!     It was dusk and there was a storm howling through the buildings. This allowed them to get closer than they should have without notice, but it meant their supporting fire was largely nullified. So they advanced on us quickly, while the cultists took a more conservative approach.     Pierre quickly dispatched a cultist with his crossbow at range, while Gaston and the lone remaining Center Guardsman went out to explore cult movements along one of our flanks. The center guardsman was taken out of action by a charging cultist, who in turn was quickly dispatched by Gaston. A horrifying, possessed creature began to advance, but as it took in the blood-soaked form of it's fallen comrade, Gaston slipped away, dragging the Center Guardsman with him.     In the meantime, the "pride" had reached our central building. We let loose with a pair of Blunderbusses, one of which didn't fire and the other of which had no apparent effect. Henri charged them - still the impetuous lad - only to be felled by the man meant to be his victim. We found our forces on the ground beset, and two of our dogs fell silent. In addition, Gillinin - on a platform above - had now been engaged as well.     The Life Guard engaged other henchmen from the "pride", and took one out of action, but just across the courtyard, we lost our last dog and a marksman to the onslaught. Serge and Louis, who had been exploring our other flank to keep an eye on the Possessed, saw that band withdraw and then quickly began running back towards the mayhem.     Gillinin broke and fled from his attacker, who we then saw withdraw, only to be replaced by Johann the Knife on a perch in the middle of an elevated walkway! Pierre left his hiding spot in the window and charged Johann, inflicting a wound. Serge took out another of the "pride", and our Life Guard on the other side of the courtyard felled two more. With Johann under siege, their leader engaged with Louis, and Serge roaming free ready to inflict great harm, the "pride" broke and ran.     After ensuring that the possessed were indeed not still lurking around, we searched the area they had come from. We found 5 more shards of stone, added to the six we had found earlier. We had started with seven, but Henri could not be found anywhere, and he had been carrying one of the shards. As we searched for Henri's body, we found a cache of prisoners, one of whom was convinced to join our Life Guards. We did not, however, find Henri, and without his skill in tending to the dogs, two of them died of their wounds.     The next morning we canvassed the local shops, as well as asking of news for somebody matching Henri's description. We sold 8 shards of stone for 110gc, paid Gillinin, and bought a crossbow, shield, and helmet for our new Guardsman. This left us with 5 shards and 109gc in our treasury.     Gaston, accompanied by Jean, went off to seek the doctor again. They returned later in the day with very smug looks on their faces, though Gaston's was somewhat in pain. Gaston's hand had been reset, and since Jean's seemed to be fully healed save for the scars, we had great hope that with some rest Gaston would be free of his disfigurement as well. They also announced that they had found a shop willing to bard our warhorses. After agreeing to shell out the 80gc for the barding - and having spent another 20gc on the doctor's visit - we were left with 9gc.     That evening, we received a note indicating that the "pride" had Henri, alive and well. They had taken the 3gc he had in his pouch, and were seeking payment for his return. This left us even less impressed with our countrymen, but we eventually bartered a price of one dose of crimson shade, and Henri was returned to us that night. His account of the ordeal left us with even less regard for the "pride" - we will be warier of them than we have been in the past.     I have noticed that Louis seems to be taking more damage than before, and Serge is taking more initiative. These two are truly becoming our central combat forces around which the rest of our warband defines their tactics. I am thankful to have such warriors as these in our company. Back to the previous page. Close the journal.