Campaign Arcs

## To Vodenstadt

The recently appointed Inquisitor Vollmacht is given orders to head to Vodenstadt. He and his team pass through a village that's plagued by strange undead spectres and monsters. After battling the creatures of the night, the team track the source to a mysterious girl.

Hunting the girl deep into the Schattenwald, Vollmacht's team find themselves battling relics of an ancient god and discovering more about the dark history of their target, Elspeth von Karlen, a survivor and victim of both her family's dark power and the Inquisition's brutal justice. As they begin to catch up with her, they discover a pair of half-elves, Sofie and Irwin, who Elspeth befriended then sacrificed to her plans. Vollmacht is forced to make a difficult decision after discovering that Sofie is not only a sorcerer but also extremely close to her sixteenth birthday. Deciding to be merciful, Vollmacht elects to do everything in his power to keep the orphaned siblings as close together as he can.

Vollmacht's team finally catch up to Elspeth and the two dark spirits that haunt her bloodline as she begins her ritual to resurrect an evil elven god. As they fight through the hoards of the dead, Lina's status as a shifter is revealed and the party is thrown into chaos. However, they manage to come together and put a stop to Elspeth's plans, killing her and finally ending the sad tale of her life.

## A Murdered Inquisitor

Finally arriving in Vodenstadt, the team learn that the previous Inquisitor, Straussdorf, was recently found murdered in the streets. Before the day is through, the team once again experiences a crisis of trust and faith as Clara voluntarily reveals her true changeling nature. As inter-party tensions clash, they must still work together to follow the clues Straussdorf left behind him and discover the truth behind his death.

Their search leads them to the Candlemaker's guild and its dark connections to the criminal organisation the Lightsteppers as well as the heresy conducted by both. A cult is lurking in the depths of the passages beneath Vodenstadt, a cult using guild's heretical candles and the blood of kidnapped sorcerers to summon forth demonic abominations.

Stakes become even higher when Sofie is kidnapped straight from the home of the Inquisition within Vodenstadt and prepared as a sacrifice. Vollmacht and his team manage to infiltrate the ritual in the nick of time and put a stop to the sacrifices. However, it is not over yet as the Lightsteppers, and the mysterious Hush Master who guides them, are rooted even deeper below the city.

Following a lead, they investigate a strange abbey where they first come into contact with the tricksy and treacherous Mina Baelwytch. After an assist from Inquisitor Grubenstein, they learn more about the Baelwytches and their dark intentions.

After a mysterious woman named Richter helps Clara infiltrate the Lightsteppers and gain the necessary information for an assault upon the passages beneath the city, the true preparations begin. However, the Baelwytches strike first and in their attack upon the mayor, Lina is killed. Newcomer and old friend of Hedwig's, Morgan steps in to fill the void left behind. After an incredibly rocky start with grievances airing both old and new, the team pulls itself together to finally wipe the Lightsteppers out once and for all.

One final mystery is answered with Straussdorf revealing to Vollmacht that he is in fact very much alive.

## A Traitor Uncovered

Still recovering from the heavy losses in the aftermath of the assault, Straussdorf informs Klemens of his belief that there was a traitor somewhere among the military who hopes to strike now that the city's defences have been decimated.

As officials within Vodenstadt's military begin to disappear and rumours begin to swirl about the strangeness of many of the new soldiers brought in from outside the city, Vollmacht and his team begin a very careful investigation. Without evidence there is a traitor, they risk bringing danger and disgrace upon their heads if their activities are detected too early.

Suspicion falls upon Captain Boehm and the team makes careful preparation to investigate. Unfortunately, disaster strikes and, while Vollmacht gains the evidence he needs far earlier than expected, Morgan is slain in the conflict. The death of another member proves too much for the fragile team and it splinters once more with Hedwig departing shortly after the funeral. Into this delicate situation steps Klaus, a previous team member of Vollmacht's thought dead for over seven years, and his hired bodyguard, Ester. The newly repaired team, with the help of Scout-Sergeant Habicht chase after the fleeing Boehm, capturing him before too long. They also make the shocking discovery that the strange, mindless soldiers have been tortured and tainted till they are nothing more than empty husks.

They bring him to Fort Helgenhoff in the hopes that General von Lusberg will be able to assist them in getting answers out of Boehm. However, the conspiracy lies even deeper than they thought and Von Lusberg reveals himself to be a traitor, poisoning and capturing the entire team. He reveals his plans to Vollmacht, that he was the one behind everything and that he intends to sacrifice the entire city of Vodenstadt to his demonic master.

With the help of Richter, the team manages to fight their way free and race back to the city of Vodenstadt to find it already ablaze. After infiltrating, Vollmacht and his team set about dismantling Von Lusberg's forces and his summoning circles, ending in a climactic battle with Methelas the Whisperer who had possessed the body of the Prince. Vollmacht is forced to execute the Prince saving the city and the wider region but ensuring that he and his team will no longer be welcome within Vodenstadt.

As the team prepare for their next adventure, Clara makes a shocking discovery.

## A Dark Disappearance

After a lengthy break, the team gear up to track down a missing Inquisitor Raiken, deep in the Schattenwald. On the way, they stop to get Klaus re-certified. The trip through the Scattenwald is dangerous, and the team fight many undead creatures before they strike a truce with a lich by the name of Wulfryn and discover that Raiken last went to the elven city of Fenn'har Al'ai. With a stroke of luck, they find a guide to help them to the city but no further.

Inside the city, we find the ruins of Raiken's camp, empty and at first glance undisturbed - but investigation shows signs of violence covered up. A hidden diary reveals plans to enter the catacombs, so the party sets forth.

But the door seals shut behind them, with no way to open it. Out of choices, the group head further into the pitch black catacombs, accompanied by traps and manic writings scratched into the walls.

Eventually they stumble into a group of elves, who promise to lead us to their leader as long as we promise to abandon our weapons and our torches. Now blinded, we are led into the great hall of their Queen. She demands that, as her property now, one of the group must make a bodily sacrifice.

It is Lothar who volunteers to lose his eye, which is promptly cut out and thrown down a deep, dark pit in the centre of the throne room. After this the group are stripped and marched into a cell - which is already occupied by an ill, near death Raiken - missing a hand.

Lothar heals Raiken and they all rest. Later, Raiken informs them that the rest of her team were forced to make sacrifices of organs that they could not live without. Clara is informed by her changeling friends that help is on the way, if they are proactive. With little time, the team manage to bust out of their cell and quickly escape through the maze of rocky tunnels, managing along the way to rescue their gear and weapons.

It is a frantic escape, and soon attracts the attention of various high ranking elven soldiers. Eventually, the group with Raiken managed to get to the last bridge before the exit, followed closely by swarms of elves, only for there to be a blinding light and a mysterious red robed figure appearing on the bridge. The stranger tells the group to run on, and using a staff of daylight obliterates some of their pursuers. They run on, and at the sealed entranceway the stranger takes a vial of blood smashes it against the rock with elvish words, opening it and closing it behind the group.

Though exhausted and battle weary, the group press on lest they are followed until they are a safe distance away from Fenn'har Al'ai. The stranger reveals himself as an elf by the name of Iontair.

Iontair is exceptionally old, and knew the Fireheart personally, and helped found the Inquisition - a history not taught. Iontair tells the party he was sent to help them, but refuses to say who by before he teleports away. Raiken and Klemens briefly argue over trusting Iontair, but decide nevertheless to head to the capital.

## Corruption and Crime

The team rest in the capital when Vollmacht receives a request for help from Inquisitor Reiter, who is trying to investigate a series of mysterious murders in the city of Oldenstadt. The group set off to assist.

On the journey, the group encounter reports on a dragon in the province of Vestria and decide to track it down. They manage to kill the dragon, and search its lair. Clara finds a statue of the Elven god Sarela Methenas and attempts to pocket it, only to be spotted by Vollmacht. He demands an answer, but Clara cannot give him one as the reason she took it is because she has started to worship Sarela Methenas.

The group celebrate their win at a local Inquisitor's house and that night Clara escapes with the help of other changelings she contacted. The rest of the team wake up, but despite their attempts they are unable to stop her.

The rest of the journey passes without incident and Vollmacht and co. arrive in Oldenstadt. There they meet the city's Inquisitor, Buchenheim. They are informed that Grand Inquisitor Aachenbach is sending over an acolyte, Juliane Retter, to replace the escaped Clara. The elves in Oldenstadt, who are confined to a slum named Eldertown, are being mysteriously murdered with their hearts being cut out and ancient writing cut into their bodies.

Klaus is left a mysterious note about his past, demanding a meeting. The next day half the team talk to the local bishop, Paulus, who informs them that a local criminal gang on elves called the Sharps are responsible for the murder, while the others fail to get information out of the local guard.

During the investigation, the team discover that many elves who commit crimes are sentenced to hard labor and do not ever return to Oldenstadt. Klaus scrys on an elf who was taken for hard labour and discovers she is on a Khurzak ship - presumably to be sold as a slave. They tell Inquisitor Reiter, who is furious at the discovery.

Klaus visits the writer of the letter, a man called Lorenzo, who demands that Klaus retrieves for him a vial of a previous Celestant's blood, or he will reveal to the Inquisition what Klaus was up to during his memory gap, with some parchment to prove that it was nothing legal.

Ester discovers her family's mercenary company are in town and has a happy reunion with them. Her father agrees to let her join them if she leaves the Inquisition. She returns and asks Vollmacht to release her of her oath. Vollmacht is reluctant and the two fight before he finally agrees.

While following leads the group question the elf Mette Wendler, who knew a murder victim well. She asks that she join them to find the murderer, and Vollmacht agrees. Mette has ties to the Sharps, and manages to arrange a meeting with Vollmacht and Elsa, a Sharps lieutenant. She promises to arrange a meeting with the leader of the Sharps, Lady Sharp.

Inquisitor Reiter informs them that the elves who disappear from hard labor have meetings with the von Rosengardt family, an influential family to which both the bishop and the patrician of the city belong to. They return to the cathedral to talk to bishop Paulus, only to meet Inquisitor Buchenheim instead, who informs that they captured a Sharp who has confessed on a zone of truth that Lady Sharp is murdering elves to bring back sorcery. Suspecting intrigue, Vollmacht takes control of the prisoner and brings back to their base. They convince Administrator Seraphina to cast greater restoration on the prisoner, which brings back his true memories of being enchanted by a woman, and he insists that the Sharps are not behind the murders.

At the urging of Inquisitor Reiter, Vollmacht tells Inquisitor Buchenheim of this information and that they currently suspect the bishop. He is disturbed, and tells them that the woman who changed the prisoner's memories sounds like Gila, and that prosecuting the bishop will be difficult as he falls under church law. Buchenheim urges them to collect solid evidence while he works on securing the political power to get the bishop tried.

Klaus scrys on Gila and notices she has a brand on her neck - ostensibly a slave mark. Vollmacht and Mette leave to meet with Lady Sharp, who tells them that while the Sharps are now the largest gang there are five other groups, who survived a purge of criminals some years ago. Lady Sharp suspects that these gangs are working together behind the scenes, as they never make any significant attacks on each other and help each other out when the Sharps attack them.

After the meeting, Inquisitor Reiter arrives with information that the records detailing the elves sent to hard labor are forged and that she has been staking out the docks where she saw someone being kidnapped. The team mobilize and arrive at the building, staging a successful assault and rescuing Eiko Horst, who reveals that he was investigating a slavery ring and wants to lend his help. Vollmacht accepts his help.

Vollmacht contrives a plan to attack the five other criminal groups simultaneously. Buchenheim announces that he will plan to kidnap Gila under the pretense of needing her help with some Inquisition work. When questioned. Gila admits that she is an unsanctioned Khurzak slave owned by the bishop who forced her to do all kinda of magical demands, including planting false memories.

As other groups, including the Montero Mercenaries and the Sharps attack, Vollmacht attacks the cathedral. They are denied entry and have to fight their way in. The bishop's office is empty but Vollmacht finds a map which suggests secret tunnels in the basement. They head down and search the vaults, which are full of precious relics. They find the secret tunnels and find the bishop trying to escape by boat. Reiter shoots the rowing boat and the bishop is arrested.

Vollmacht goes on a walk with Gila after her testimony is secured. She tells him she wants nothing more than to go back to Khurzak lands, but he cannot aid her escape. Vollmacht gives her money and tells her to change his memories so he believes that he tried to execute her and she managed to knock him out and slip away. Gila does so. Meanwhile, Seraphina informs the others that while the cathedral vaults were left open and unguarded, a vial of the old Celestant's blood was stolen.

Grand Inquisitor Aachenbach, Emperor Waldemar and the Celestant Karoline and summoned to the city for the trial. The group are invited to a party with them, where the Emperor tells Vollmacht that he has his support and he will leave behind a group of his personal guard to help Vollmacht find the source of the murders.

The group take to nightly patrols in Eldertown. One night they notice a figure climbing into a person's home and break in. They find a hooded figure, about to murder someone, and a struggle ensues, however the murderer manages to escape.

The would be murder victim, an elf named Hubert, is brought around with the group while they continue their investigation. They uncover a link between old sewers and basements in Eldertown but before they can investigate an abandoned building Hubert falls ill. He is left behind with Lothar and Juli while the rest press on.

Hubert's illness worsens before he explodes into a horrifying abomination, dripping black ooze. Lothar and Juliane nearly succumb to the creature before killing it. Meanwhile, the others manage to find the murderer's lair below an empty house and wait for the murderer who is none other than ex-Inquisitor Johanna Loche.

Loche reveals that the elves in Eldertown are slowly being corrupted by an old god called Ulian, and she has been cutting out their hearts to stop them becoming monsters. Vollmacht agrees to help her collect items for a ritual that will stop Ulian's reach into Eldertown - a great deal of magical blood, an item of fiendish nature and an item of divine nature. Everyone is in on the plan to help, except Juli, who is supposed to be a spy planted by Aachenbach, who greatly disapproves of Vollmacht. If the rest of the Inquisition find out what is really going on, they would rather slaughter every elf in Eldertown rather than use an Elvish magic ritual.

Vollmacht conjures a plan to steal the Cowl of the Celestant, an important divine relic in the cathedral's vaults. Juli is sent outside of the city on a spurious chore while Klaus and Vollmacht successfully conduct a heist in the cathedral, stealing the cowl.

Klaus magically conducts Clara and asks for her aid in securing the fiendish artifact. Clara agrees and manages to, with the aid of her changeling friends steal an artifact from a hobgoblin in the Dark Oath.

Following a false lead, the group decide to chase down blood smugglers who they argue may have had use for the Celestant's blood. They buy a ship and sail to the town of Rosengardt, where they pretend to be unscrupulous traders. They manage to secure a deal where they provide passage to refugees who they likely sorcerers fleeing Cothenberg.

The refugees, two women and a baby, are taken onboard and the ship heads off. They have only just left the bay when they attacked by another ship who demands the refugees. The team allow the other ship to board before killing them. The crew were blood smugglers, and have already vials of blood for delivery. Through magical means they discover the location of the hive of blood smugglers. Vollmacht and Juli murder the refugees, much to the upset of Klaus.

Outside the blood smuggler base, they encounter Nardan pirates who are interested in destroying the blood smugglers. The two team up and assault the hub together. Many blood smugglers and orcish witches are killed. Vollmacht and Klaus find the storage room for all the letted blood and take it for use in the ritual.

Sailing back to Oldenstadt, they discover that a crisis is about to happen - the Emperor's guards have been patrolling Eldertown in the group's absence and they also stumbled upon Loche. They took in the potential victims for safe keeping and wounded Loche but did not capture her.

In a rush, the group head towards the guard's headquarters but it is too late - the elves have already turned into monsters and are wreaking death and destruction on those unfortunate to be nearby. The group rush to Loche and give her the artifacts needed for the ritual. Loche informs them that one monster has appeared in the Clanrows, the Dwarven sector of Oldenstadt, and the team make a significant detour to kill it before meeting with Buchenheim. Buchenheim has sent word to Aachenbach and is suspicious that they knew about the monster in the Clanrows before anyone else did.

Ulian, somehow realising what is happening, starts turning more elves into monsters. Vollmacht and his team (except for Klaus who is helping Loche) spend many hours fighting the monsters in Eldertown. They meet up with Buchenheim again, who has received orders from Aachenbach - kill every elf from Eldertown. Appalled, Buchenheim is intent on carrying out his orders. Knowing the ritual will be completed soon, Vollmacht pleads for more time, but without any evidence and only vague statements, Buchenheim realises that Vollmacht has been up to something the Inquisition will not approve of and refuses to help.

Juli breaks her oath to Vollmacht and joins Buchenheim, who states he will not arrest Vollmacht unless he raises a weapon against him or his acolytes. However, it turns to that as Vollmacht tries desperately to stall Buchnheim.

There are no fatalities in the fight, but Buchenheim surrenders when his acolytes are knocked unconscious. The ritual completes, and everyone feels a burst of energy. Leaving behind Reiter, who added them, the group rush to Loche's hideout and Klaus desperately messages Clara for help getting them out. They find Loche aged and weak, but still alive. Iontair appears and offers them a way out. Everyone holds hands, and grabs Loche, and the group are teleported somewhere else.