Gameplay 1b - Rats in the Woodwork

The Port of Hamburg, Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation

After leaving Cambridge, you made for London and then took passage to Germany. Your goal, the dark heart of Eastern Europe. The master of the college had few ideas but one struck a chord, reminding you of a forgotten nightmare. As you looked at each other across the table, you knew you'd have to go east.

You've found yourself at an inn in Hamburg. The time is late, and the captain insisted this establishment was reputable, having grown to know your temperaments during the voyage. The Saucy Fiddler was no low sailors haunt, but one chosen by more finicky merchants.

While staying at an inn, you hear of murders in the nearby port. Several corpses have been found at the docks, badly slashed and hacked apart, as if by some maniacal butcher. Drawn to the macabre, you find yourselves on the docks they spy a small crowd of people at the edge of the wharf. Two guardsmen are dragging a body from the water, which they dump onto the wharf in full view of the heroes.

The body has multiple deep lacerations. (A character making a Healing roll may notice more.) One of the guards gives the body a cursory examination, muttering, "Devil take my soul! This is the fifth one this week!"

"May I take a look Sir, I'm a doctor." Ataan states moving and pushing his way through the crowd.

The wounds are deep, made by a wide, fat weapon, perhaps an axe.

I doubt you can help him now Ataan. He looks dead, and perhaps knifed to death and dumped in the water by the looks of things.

"This man wasn't slashed or stabbed to death but literally hacked at, blood loss I figure from all the wounds lead to death... Were the other four like this as well?" Ataan states as he stands with a frown wiping down his slacks after the inspection of the corpse.

The guard informs you there has been a string of murders recently, all at night, and all of the victims were found in the river with exactly the same type of wound.

He then points toward the main square, where you can see a gibbet occupied by the decomposing corpse of an old woman. "I blame that witch," he says quietly, as if fearful the corpse will hear him. "This all started the night she died. Almost one death a night for the last week." The guard will say no more on the matter.

As if brought out of a stupor, Cecily immediately starts wracking her brain. "Grisly murders, somehow related to a witch. We should find the law, they'll have a much more intelligent hypothesis. Hopefully."

"I agree start warning people about going out at night alone if they haven't figured it out." Ataan states the obvious before looking for where the local law and magistrate might be located after asking the guard

Just to be clear the two guardsmen are soldiers, and so perform the duties of modern day police. (The first police force was formed in 1829.)

Hmm, I don't think my weapons will be much use against witchcraft. I wonder if one of us can persuade the guards to reveal a little more? I am not very good at that kind of thing. No one wants to look at my ugly face for too long.

"Nonsense Gerald, everyone bleeds. Even heathens."

If you would like to question the locals, a Streetwise check would be in order.

If you want to instead go straight to the guard post to find the officer in charge, no roll necessary, it won't be a secret.

Ataan asks locals.

Ataan learn that the witch was put in the gibbet just over a week ago after being duly tried and sentenced by the local magistrate. (With a raise): You also learn the witch killed herself, biting open her own wrists and letting her blood spill to the floor. As her life force ebbed away, she cursed the town, vowing that "by my blood will I have revenge."

Looks like she's getting her revenge then doesn't it? And if she's dead, how do we stop her? Perhaps if we scrubbed every speck of her blood from the floor? Burn the gibbet?

"Lets find out what charges she was tried over and then sentenced, it honestly sounds like a desperate act to me and if she had this kind of power and actually did something she seems smart enough to not get caught." Ataan admits before going to find the local magistrate to set up an appointment to be seen.

"It is a mystery yes. How exactly one who has died manages to literally hack people to pieces. Very curious indeed..."

"Considering the last few months if there's malice and regret there is a way it seems." Ataan morbidly admits.

Let's go find the magistrate...