WEISSMACH LETTER #6
Amberstoll Citadel, Barony of Amberstoll, Duchy of Sandomir, The Weissmach
To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,
My Lord, do you know how many bones are in the hand? I have a long-term reminder of this trivia with 54 marks on my necks from Balfas' skeletal fingers strangling me!
The answer is twenty-seven.
Upon our destruction of General Balfas and the death of our friend Rogrim, we discovered the logistical issue with our heroic actions.
Celeste pulled out a pouch and handed a mismatched collection of silverware, gems, costume jewelry, and a smattering of coins to one of the villagers.
Amberstoll Citadel, Barony of Amberstoll, Duchy of Sandomir, The Weissmach
To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,
My Lord, do you know how many bones are in the hand? I have a long-term reminder of this trivia with 54 marks on my necks from Balfas' skeletal fingers strangling me!
The answer is twenty-seven.
Upon our destruction of General Balfas and the death of our friend Rogrim, we discovered the logistical issue with our heroic actions.
Celeste pulled out a pouch and handed a mismatched collection of silverware, gems, costume jewelry, and a smattering of coins to one of the villagers.
“This is what I found on the character in the Balfas’ tombs. I assume it belongs to the village.”
We were on the outskirts of the Duchy of Sandomir, so it was appropriate to escort the villagers home. But we also had thirteen bodies to transport back to Krigsgrave: Balfas and his eight warriors, Rolgrim, and three villagers.
It was slow going, travelling with exhausted villagers and a baker’s dozen of bodies, but we arrived in Krigsgrave after two days. We stripped Balfas and his men of their possessions and buried them in individual graves in the village cemetery. We bestowed the armor and weapons to the village smith to either fix and use in some other project.
We did bury Rolgrim in the old barrow that previously housed Balfas. Between Celeste and Alwin, I assume the ground was consecrated to prevent the same fate from befalling him, and the doors sealed and chained to deter future aspiring tomb robbers.
Upon reviewing the spoils of war, I still held possession of Balfas’ longsword Betrayer, Celeste had claimed “dibs” on the gold embossed chain mail, while Murag grabbed the similarly decorated shield. Morya grabbed the ceremonial shortsword with a gold hilt, along with gold bracers and the General’s ring. Celeste also snared his open face helm, decorated with aquamarines… and a large dent to the back of it from her mace.
After two days, I considered it right and proper that we alert the authorities. The closest of the Citadels was Amberstoll, so we hired the services of Bartel to guide (and allow us access) and left.
We arrived at Amberstoll unscathed and Bartel allowed us access... and an immediate reunion with a young man named Maruch, the only villager to successfully flee Krigsgrave when Balfas took over . The authorities laughed at him when he made his claims.
We hoped four certified statements (Alwin and Celeste, as members of the clergy, Bartel and Maruch) would sway the leaders of the citade.
We went to the magistrate's office to report what had happened, and despite the witnesses, this Bartholomew Brightswallow, scoffed at our credentials, and threw us in the jail for being tomb raiders.
We were on the outskirts of the Duchy of Sandomir, so it was appropriate to escort the villagers home. But we also had thirteen bodies to transport back to Krigsgrave: Balfas and his eight warriors, Rolgrim, and three villagers.
It was slow going, travelling with exhausted villagers and a baker’s dozen of bodies, but we arrived in Krigsgrave after two days. We stripped Balfas and his men of their possessions and buried them in individual graves in the village cemetery. We bestowed the armor and weapons to the village smith to either fix and use in some other project.
We did bury Rolgrim in the old barrow that previously housed Balfas. Between Celeste and Alwin, I assume the ground was consecrated to prevent the same fate from befalling him, and the doors sealed and chained to deter future aspiring tomb robbers.
Upon reviewing the spoils of war, I still held possession of Balfas’ longsword Betrayer, Celeste had claimed “dibs” on the gold embossed chain mail, while Murag grabbed the similarly decorated shield. Morya grabbed the ceremonial shortsword with a gold hilt, along with gold bracers and the General’s ring. Celeste also snared his open face helm, decorated with aquamarines… and a large dent to the back of it from her mace.
After two days, I considered it right and proper that we alert the authorities. The closest of the Citadels was Amberstoll, so we hired the services of Bartel to guide (and allow us access) and left.
We arrived at Amberstoll unscathed and Bartel allowed us access... and an immediate reunion with a young man named Maruch, the only villager to successfully flee Krigsgrave when Balfas took over . The authorities laughed at him when he made his claims.
We hoped four certified statements (Alwin and Celeste, as members of the clergy, Bartel and Maruch) would sway the leaders of the citade.
We went to the magistrate's office to report what had happened, and despite the witnesses, this Bartholomew Brightswallow, scoffed at our credentials, and threw us in the jail for being tomb raiders.
Luckily, the captain the baronial guard, one Boris Smutney, was passing near the magistrate's office and overheard the tale.
He immediately told Baron Remo of our tall tale, and the Baron demanded an audience with us.
I must admit that I impressed the Baron quite a bit without sounding too pompous. Not only did he free us permanently, but he called for the arrest of Magistrate Brightswallow, for eschewing his judiciary duties. And then the Baron asked us for a favor.
He explained that the magistrate was an unwilling Duchal appointee. Most baronies in The Weissmach relied on a group of peacekeepers known as the Freigraffs. I was confused as to why a Freigraff, a rare noble title in Ras-Prythax was used essentially as a roving knight who dispenses justice, but since our first steps in the territory, nothing completely surprises me in The Weissmach.
Freigraffs would traditionally hold court under a linden tree, and it just happened that Amberstoll's Totenlinden was just outside the Baron's residence.
He decreed that The Order and Celeste would collectively act as judge. We were touched by Baron Remo's foresight, but rather than punish the obnoxious man, we felt it better that the Baron appoint him to new duties for the barony, but still on the Duke's payroll. Remo gave him some duties of... a middling scribe... and then granted all of us, including the dwarf, as Freigraffs of the Totenlinden of Amberstoll.
Upon further review of the paperwork received (a copies have been to Feraso City and to you to provide proof of this foreign title), I discovered that a bona fide Freigraff can wield his power anywhere across The Weissmach.
The Baron also offered a permanent paid position of Freigraff of the barony to one of us. We asked for some time to discuss this, and over drinks, it was determined that Celeste should accept the offer.
However, upon waking up the following morning, we could not find Celeste anywhere. We ventured back to the Baron, only to find her with him. The Baron withdrew his open offer and asked our cleric Alwin for the position directly. Celeste explained (and we all knew deep in our hearts) that Alwin wasn't the adventuring type, and a simple government position for a Priest of the God of Law and Order was perfect. Alwin accepted immediately.
After some congratulatory handshakes and glad tidings, Celeste strolled up to us, "So, I hear you guys need a cleric... and I might know where Talanth Blackash and his cronies might be."
I agreed, as spokesman for the party, under one condition: She needed to tell her tales of the Blackash Crew to us, as well as a formal letters to you, My Lord, as well as Krugraf Mykul.
She has agreed.
Yours in Service,
Elsderth Greyhawk
Sage of the The Order of Merit, Former Sellsword - Extraordinaire
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Freigraff of the Totenlinden of Amberstoll
DM Notes: Everything I've read about the adventure, Necropolis, is that it was filler with some potential.
I could have have made this a very sad story, with the Order finding a distraught Celeste with empty barrows and an empty village with no hope of recovering the villages. However, it makes more sense to join the group and give Alwin an out. Freigraff Warmark is not a dispenser of justice I want to deal with.
Next: #26 - A Letter from Celeste
He immediately told Baron Remo of our tall tale, and the Baron demanded an audience with us.
I must admit that I impressed the Baron quite a bit without sounding too pompous. Not only did he free us permanently, but he called for the arrest of Magistrate Brightswallow, for eschewing his judiciary duties. And then the Baron asked us for a favor.
He explained that the magistrate was an unwilling Duchal appointee. Most baronies in The Weissmach relied on a group of peacekeepers known as the Freigraffs. I was confused as to why a Freigraff, a rare noble title in Ras-Prythax was used essentially as a roving knight who dispenses justice, but since our first steps in the territory, nothing completely surprises me in The Weissmach.
Freigraffs would traditionally hold court under a linden tree, and it just happened that Amberstoll's Totenlinden was just outside the Baron's residence.
He decreed that The Order and Celeste would collectively act as judge. We were touched by Baron Remo's foresight, but rather than punish the obnoxious man, we felt it better that the Baron appoint him to new duties for the barony, but still on the Duke's payroll. Remo gave him some duties of... a middling scribe... and then granted all of us, including the dwarf, as Freigraffs of the Totenlinden of Amberstoll.
Upon further review of the paperwork received (a copies have been to Feraso City and to you to provide proof of this foreign title), I discovered that a bona fide Freigraff can wield his power anywhere across The Weissmach.
The Baron also offered a permanent paid position of Freigraff of the barony to one of us. We asked for some time to discuss this, and over drinks, it was determined that Celeste should accept the offer.
However, upon waking up the following morning, we could not find Celeste anywhere. We ventured back to the Baron, only to find her with him. The Baron withdrew his open offer and asked our cleric Alwin for the position directly. Celeste explained (and we all knew deep in our hearts) that Alwin wasn't the adventuring type, and a simple government position for a Priest of the God of Law and Order was perfect. Alwin accepted immediately.
After some congratulatory handshakes and glad tidings, Celeste strolled up to us, "So, I hear you guys need a cleric... and I might know where Talanth Blackash and his cronies might be."
I agreed, as spokesman for the party, under one condition: She needed to tell her tales of the Blackash Crew to us, as well as a formal letters to you, My Lord, as well as Krugraf Mykul.
She has agreed.
Yours in Service,
Elsderth Greyhawk
Sage of the The Order of Merit, Former Sellsword - Extraordinaire
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Freigraff of the Totenlinden of Amberstoll
DM Notes: Everything I've read about the adventure, Necropolis, is that it was filler with some potential.
I could have have made this a very sad story, with the Order finding a distraught Celeste with empty barrows and an empty village with no hope of recovering the villages. However, it makes more sense to join the group and give Alwin an out. Freigraff Warmark is not a dispenser of justice I want to deal with.
Next: #26 - A Letter from Celeste
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