Attack of the Beastmen

Date: Erntezeit 23, 2522

The party sails from Karak Zifflin on the river Salm, stopping by the port of Nehren, in the Barony of Stuppach. After stocking up on supplies the groups continues sailing up river toward Sonnenfurt, but shortly after passing the town of Salmfähre the barge hits a man-made dam, with another riverboat already caught in the snare. The hobbits disembark and board the shipwrecked vessel and find crates packed with delicate artifacts. Urs and Gruntilda are quickly greeted by Bella Thorncobble, a faculty member of the University whom the ship belongs, and her sparse entourage. The Professor explains that her crew was returning from a disastrous spelunking of a nearby tomb when they hit the dam. Tumney, sensing these events were related, pressed Ms. Thorncobble on her findings. The Professor explained that one of the most notable finds was an obsidian dagger found in the hand of the tomb's King. It wasn't long before the makers of the dam revealed themselves: a large force of beastmen led by a manticore-mounted shaman swarmed the survivors. Urs, Gruntilda and Tumney kept the swarm at bay with Urs making the final push to secure the party's escape. Though Urs was incapicated and captured, survivors boarded the Heart and Soll and made their way back upriver to regroup and plan Urs's rescue...

Counterstrike

Date: Erntezeit 24, 2522

The survivors landed in Salmfähre, licking their wounds. After explaining the situation to the townmaster, the party is invited to the Keep to debrief the Baron himself. Here the party found the master of the lands consulting with a taciturn elf who had also been tracking this band throughout the wood for some time. The Baron, now sold on the danger lurking on his doorstep, summons a levy to accompany the party to the ambush site the next day. During the night, Tumney sussed out one of Ms. Thorncobble's crew who had hidden the dagger, and for a tidy sum of 30 gold pieces agreed to reveal it's location. However, upon arrival Tumney and the elf who had been following not long behind were met by beastmen who also had the dagger's scent. It didn't take long for battle to be joined, and Siegward, Urs' companion was slaughtered by one of their number. Ultimately the beastmen were dashed on the shore, and the dagger retrieved. The next day our heroes and their auxiliaries stormed the beastmen's camp and drove them back into the woods, rescuing Urs in the process. While there were a few casualties, the returning victors were in good spirits. A minor festival was held to celebrate the occasion... The group ingratiated themselves with the Baron and partook in the merriment, resting after a job well done...

Fumbling the Bag

Date: Erntezeit 25, 2522

On our way to Sonnefurt we made a stop at Wursterburg to see Ms. Thorncobble off and resupply. Tumney noticed a strage stevedore with a large chest making a hasty exit from our ship. We quickly realized our collective wealth was in the stevedore's custody and gave chase, ultimately losing the thief. We eventually found the rapscallion was in the employ of one Ludo the Fat, a big-time gangster in the area. Tumney and Gusmerelda, ahead of the curve, managed to track down the thief and Ludo and confront them in Ludo's gamehouse. After a lengthy conversation, the lucre was returned with the exception of 100g, to be withheld as tribute to the crime lord. The duo were offered the opportunity to win back a share of the money, but only 33g was scored. We agreed that Ludo needed to be taught a lession in professional courtesy...

Licking Our Wounds

Date: Erntezeit 29, 2522

I obtained the services of two private investigators in Wursterburg, Luisa and Johanna who delivered a wealth of information regarding Ludo's enterprises and connections. Ludo's connections to the slave trade seemed the most vital piece of information. With this information in hand we regrouped at the docks and piled into the Heart and Soll to finish our long voyage home. During a brief stop in Kell however, Gusmerelda glimpsed the crooked stevedore on the docks and gave pursuit. Unfortunately she was cornered and bested in an alley. The bastard will pay dearly...

Trouble in the Barony

Date: Brauzeit 19, 2522

Shortly after returning to Sonnefort Tumney and I purchased a number of small tenements near the docks and even hired a rat catcher to begin clearing the area of vermin. While enjoying a well deserved drink at the Broken Anchor we were approached by a well dressed man who called himself Theofold Boeckert who invited us to his home to offer us a job. Having nothing immediate in front of us, we accompanied Theofold to his townhome to hear him out. While briefing us, he began siezing shortly after taking a sip of brandy. Thinking quickly I implored our herbalist to diagnose the poisoned man, and thankfully not only was she able to diagnose the nightshade poisoning but also to treat the man with an anti-toxin. Shaken, Theofold continued to explain the job while packing, intending to leave town immediately. Theofold is a private investigator who was hired to investigate subversive elements looking to inflame tentions between the Baroness and rival factions and profit from the chaos. We were given two clues: an incoming shipment from Sylvania coming in the day after tomorrow and the theft of an artifact from the University of Sonnefort. We agreed to take the job which pays 5g to each of us immediately and 100g gross after the job is completed.