Session 58

Outside the building, Siegward banged on the door nine times, imitating the Frau Kenners knock. After a few moments of no answer the bashed in the door to see and old house and stairs leading downwards. Two individuals stood nearby watching the door, one man and one woman. The man thew objects at Siegward as he came down the stairs. With Siegberts help they were able to push him back and Siegbert delt the final blow with his dagger. Frau Kenner appeared and was referred to by those in the house as Brunhilde Klaglich, she barked orders to the woman in the doorway who worked herself into a frenzy and drew a large two handed sword. Charging forward she delt a serious blow to Siegward. At this point Ava and Marriane had entered the house and Ava was shooting magic everyone. Marianne drew energy to cast a fireball spell but it hit Siegbert in the back! Ava spun around and Marianne tried to convince her to turn on her friends. "There is much more to this than you know!" Ava however would not listen to her teachers treachery and threw spells back at her. It was much too late for Siegbert however, his skin melting off his body as he let out screams of agony(no fate point was used to get this characters dooming).

Siegward and Kaspar tried to contend with the woman wielding the two hander, only to spot another spell caster further down the hallway. Brunhilde was posing a serious threat with her rapier for the two martials and the day would surely have been lost if it was not for Ava. Possessed by Death itself, she conjured waves of magic while counter spelling any offence coming the groups way. Purple skulls flew around the room killing both Marianne and the woman wielding the two hander. Brunhilde and the other wizard tried to make an escape by conjuring a firewall and trapping out heroes in but Ava was much too powerful and blasted Brunhilde away while Kaspar's sling got the final blow on the other wizard. Siegward had fallen into unconsciousness due to his wounds and as Ava saw to him Kaspar came across a young girl, bound in another room.

Ernest addressed Herbert warmly, asking once more if he would join him. Herbert inquired about his past and Ernest nodded, agreeing he deserved to know. Ernest revealed he is a doctor or alchemist of sorts. He was able to get work with both the Hand and Crown due to his unique ability to create clones or doppelgangers. He knows Herbert the longest because he created Herbert, gave life to him. He was supposed to replace Kaspar until the Hand found out about the inheritence and the plan was scrapped. Looking to get rid of the evidence they wanted Herbert dead but Ernest couldn't bring himself to kill his "first born". As such he gave him enough knowledge to handle himself around the Empire before letting him float down river where he was eventually discovered.

Ernest reveals he wants to make more clones, to replace those in power with his subjects. To control the empire from within and make it better for the common man! He even hints that the Emperor is one of his, or that someone close to Karl Franz is. Herbert takes a minute for the weight of the truth to hit him. He knows his origins, he has learnt who he really is. Ernest tells him his work for the Hand in Middenheim is done and they need to leave soon. Herbert looks at this 'father' and agrees to join him(having finished his long term goal the character is retired).

Back at the house Kaspar and Ava find out that the captive girl is Reya Ehrlich, the niece of Law Lord Reiner Ehrlich. She demands to be taken to her uncle at once. The pair ignore her somewhat as Ava see's to her brother while Kaspar finds documents, or love letters. They are very sappy poetry addressed to someone named Em and signed by The Big Bad Wolf. After waking Siegward the four of them make their way to Law Lord Ehrlich home. The croweds in the city make this rather difficult and a large group who seek to usurp control of the government for the party to split. Ava, Siegward and Reya loose track of Kaspar in the flood of people. They call out to him to meet at Dieters house before continuing. They also run into street performers who block their path, slowing them further. Kaspar is unable to influence the corwed but he does wriggle free and makes his way north.

Once the Law Lord see's his niece they embrace in a warm hug. After a few moments anger comes to Reiner Ehrlich who announces "Joachim Hofich is behind everything". It seem Hoflich introduced the taxes and blackmailed or extorted others to support them. Reiner gathers two guards and they head to the Palace past Dieters home where they spot Kaspar. Rushing forward to the Palace, the sky is lit up with bright flashing colours and explosions. Midnight has come and the Black Pool of Illusions is underway. Arriving at the Palace the Law Lord demands the guards ready themselves and pushes forward towards the Grafs chambers to tell him of Hoflich's treachery. As they arrive near the chambers he orders the Knights Panther to step aside and opens the Grafs doors. There, the Graf is being choked with a garrote, held by an identical Graf.