Hunter of Artemis

“...Scamandrius the son of Strophius, a mighty huntsman and keen lover of the chase. Artemis herself had taught him how to kill every kind of wild creature that is bred in mountain forests, but neither she nor his famed skill in archery could now save him” (The Iliad, book V 57-59)

Artemis, the virgin huntress and twin to bright Apollo, is one of the most widely venerated of the Olympians. Her most ardent devotess range the wildlands, far from Palace and village. Her weapon is the bow and when she wields it in divine retribution, it's arrows are tipped with deadly poison. Othertimes, her painless arrows bring longed for relief to those afflicted by sorrow. She is patron to all hunters and though she lacks her brother Apollos might in warcraft, is the unmatched mistress of the chase. All who make a kill in the wild must sacrifice 'first fruits' to her or risk illfortune.

Skills: Athletics, Fieldcraft, Ranged Arms, Philtrology, Stealth.

Secret Masteries:

Mistress of Arrows: (Fieldcraft (Hunting) Mastery)

The patronage of fair Atemis grants the hunter the ability to forfeit either movement or defense for a turn and gain +5 on aiming rolls.

Silver Bow: (Fieldcraft (Hunting) Grand Mastery)

When Niobe slighted their mother the Titan Leto, Artemis and her brother slew Niobe's six sons and six daughters, though they were only twain. The Hunter gains the ability to fire up to three arrows at once, at one or multiple targets. The hunter rolls a single attack roll and uses the result for all three shots. While using this ability, the hunter must remain stationary for their turn.

Myrmidon

“…his ranks of Myrmidons, all in armour. Hungry as Wolves that rend and bolt raw flesh, hearts filled with battle frenzy that never dies.” (The Iliad -190)

Description: The black armoured warriors of Ptithia followed their lord into exile from Aegina. It is said they are descendants of ants transformed by Zeus in order to repopulate the kingdom of his son Aeacus, the king of Aegina, after a devastating plague. Whatever this tale’s veracity, all acclaim the Myrmidons as hardy and fearless warriors, who follow the orders of their captains without question.

Skills: Manoeuvring, Melee Arms, Military Arts, Ranged Arms, +1 LP

Secret Masteries:

Hardy Warrior: Military Arts (Command) Mastery
Honed by endless battle (and some would say hardened by their heritage) the Myrmidon is able to fight on when others would fall. +1 LP. In battle, a Myrmidon will have +2 to Will checks vs Mentalism Variants.

Battle Frenzy: Military Arts (Command) Grand Mastery
In battle, the Myrmidon is overcome by a cold deadly purpose. Time slows for him and his focus narrows. Scant aware of either his wounds or distractions, the Myrmidon fights unhindered by pain and arcane influence: Myrmidon’s enter a battle frenzy that does not abate until there are no enemies within reach. They ignore penalties in combat due to IL's, though they still must pass WILL checks to remain fighting once they reach the final IL and will still die if their damage exceeds that IL. In battle, a Myrmidon will have +5 to Will checks vs Mentalism Variants.

The Bronze Age

"....Zeus the Father made a third generation of mortal men, a brazen race, sprung from ash-trees (4); and it was in no way equal to the silver age, but was terrible and strong.

They loved the lamentable works of Ares and deeds of violence; they ate no bread, but were hard of heart like adamant, fearful men. Great was their strength and unconquerable the arms which grew from their shoulders on their strong limbs.

Their armour was of bronze, and their houses of bronze, and of bronze were their implements: there was no black iron. These were destroyed by their own hands and passed to the dank house of chill Hades, and left no name: terrible though they were, black Death seized them,and they left the bright light of the sun."

-Hesiod (ll. 140-155)

Hungarian Horse Archer

The current Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund, is also King of Hungary and Hungarian troops are a core part of his forces even in German lands. In addition to the traditional noble heavy cavalry, found everywhere in Europe, the Kings "Banderium" contained many light horse of a lesser rank. There were drawn from the landed peasantry and were equipped with bows or crossbows in addition to their melee arms. Royal proclamations proscribed their inclusion in the supporting lances accompanying Knights provided for royal service against the Turk where they were a much needed counter to the eastern style light horse. The horse archers that joined the Banderium of Sigismund in Germany formed a tight community while in foreign lands.

Skills

Animal handling, Fieldcraft, Melee arms, Ranged arms, +1 LP

Secret Masteries

Horse Archer (Ranged arms (Bow) Mastery) The horseman is skilled in swift archery tactics and gains +5 to order rolls whenever movement is split to make a shot on the move, whether afoot or mounted.

Rain of arrows (Ranged arms (Bow) Grand Mastery) The horse archer has achieved the pinnacle of the skirmisher's art, able to pepper enemy troops at range with arrows fired thick enough to darken the sky. The horseman may shoot two arrows at once, at one or two targets, using a a single accuracy roll (as if shooting a single arrow) . This ability may be combined with split movement.

Regional Background: Kingdom of Hungary Languages: German, Hungarian The Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund currently holds the crown of Hungary. While often hampered by the will of his nobles or rebels elsewhere in the Empire, in Hungary he is supreme and able to both freely enact his policies and draw on the lands soldiers for his campaigns. The majority of the Hungarian people are descendents of the Magyar horsemen, related to the horde of Atilla, who raided Christian Europe before their ruler converted in 1000 AD. A significant minority are Germanic Saxon settlers. A large proportion of the soldiery of this land are light horsemen and horse archers. With the advances of the Turk, Hungary is now one of the frontiers of Christendom in the east. St Margaret is the Patron Saint of Hungary. Abilities: +1 Talent Animal Handling, Ranged Arms

Social System V: Those who choose not to conform

Those that want to be independent need to pay close attention to kinship, social status and religion as well as the law. If you don't then whatever passes for law enforcement (here in the 15th Century it is the Lord's, Town's or Bishop's men at arms) will physically subdue you and bring you to trial. The 15th Century is not big on the prison system, so unless imprisonment serves a political or religious end, the exits from imprisonment are either banishment from the jurisdiction, a very quick and public death or possibly acquittal.

The more central and public a place you have in social life, the more you must conform to all social expectations. The degree to which anything you do challenges the social order determines the likelihood that something bad will be done to you. The three principles for successfully not conforming are: 1. Don't get caught or keep your activities as far away from proper society as possible. 2. "Facts" are open to interpretation and quite a game goes into determining what counts and what doesn't. If you want to not conform, find a convenient way to to let people permit it so that even if they "really know" you are up to no good, they have a good excuse to let it go. 3. Violence speaks, as long as you can avoid anyone bigger and stronger, you can get away with anything. However, Christendom can, and often does, work as one to crush specific targets, so you better pay attention to number 2. as well.

As noted above, the price for not paying attention to kinship is probably only social disapproval and perhaps the odd beating. Unfortunately bloodlines reproduce themselves and a family grudge or feud can and usually does wait around until it gets a chance to do something more tangible to your or your descendants.

Social status is more serious, essentially, you will be made to conform immediately and everyone has a strong material and religious interest in maintaining the social order. You must understand, that just because the social order is not so good for most people two factors prevent it's overturn: 1. people fear change 2. more importantly, few people have nothing to lose and the way in which our 15th Century society works gives everyone right down the chain the opportunity to "lord it over someone else". If anyone has any ability or power to achieve anything at all, they have by definition such a stake in keeping things the way that they are, that they will work to ensure that the outcome of any social interaction reinforces this social order.

Religion is the most serious of all. The worst thing that could happen to an individual is to come under religious sanction. Not only will this lead to all of the bad things that happen when you do not conform to the demands of social status, but the strong ability of religion to motivate, will lead everyone to go out of their way to do these bad things and more. People take religion seriously, there is a widespread sense of religious danger, both the personal danger of damnation and the danger to society as a whole through consequences of Gods anger. If you offend a religious requirement, you will be marked out as cursed and curses can be contagious. If you hold some position in society, you will now be close to losing it as you have created opportunity for rivals to game against you. So you must be wondering why the Church doesn't just rule everything?

In the eternal story of the struggle between Emperors and the Popes, there is a lesson to be learnt: One intelligent and powerful Emperor so offended the Pope in their conflicts that he was excommunicated. His rivals the Electors and the great nobles took advantage of the opportunity to gather enough support to have the Emperor deposed. However, the Emperor walked barefoot in the snow, accompanied by his wife and children, to the house in the Alps where the Pope was trying hard to be out of reach. When he reached the door, he humbly knelt down in the cold snow outside and begged the Pope to come out and forgive him. The Pope had no choice but to do so and the Emperor had defeated the Pope once more.

Social System IV: Religion

On one level religion is about beliefs, ideas and truths, but that's not what really makes it so potent in the 15th Century. What makes it potent is not the power of it's ideas to sway people or the fervor of it's adherents, these are not a given or inherent characteristic of Christianity, it is the way in which religious things that people do are a embedded into every part of life.

Obviously God created the world, set the laws of nature and of men, sent forth the prophets, then Jesus and finally gave the Church his authority on earth. More than that though, when you are born you are ritually baptised into the church, every meal is probably prayed over, your name will partially incorporate a Saint's. Through your life there will be Saint's and prayers for all activities, most places will have some religious connection, the major festivals will be religious, all in authority will claim that their position is derived from God, every week (or some regular cycle) there will be community church as well as other ritual things that people dos like confession, when you are married it will be religious. Most literary works will have a strong religious and miraculous component, intellectual activity will be couched in religious terms. And then, when you die, there will be a ritual for that to, it goes without saying that all your life you have looked to religion to order your thoughts on what lies beyond the point of death.

What makes religion so potent is that since it is everywhere, pretty much all social activity reproduces (modifying it in the process) and reinforces it's important role in some way. The secret insidious element of it's durability is that even if the actual things done by those in religious power are frequently obviously bad and and the divinely ordained natural order is only leading to a life of suffering, the individual is led by the religious things that they do (and Church teaching) to focus on a settling of accounts in the world beyond and conforming to the divine will in this one. The key agent in ensuring that the religious things that people do produce the "right" type of Christian society is of course the organisation known as the "Church". The first objective of any organisation is to reproduce itself. The Church, controlling as it does most religious ideas and all the important religious things people do, as well as possessing direct targeted punishments like excommunication or charge of heresy, has a formidable (though bounded) ability to shape society. Even your own thoughts and private actions are not beyond it's control, the church has a ritual to deal to those too: you will attend confession where you will (on risk of eternal damnation after all) truthfully confess and subject yourself to punishment, for most, even performing such an act of submission can profoundly shape their actions.

For all that, it is religion or Christianity that holds European culture together. It is the common factor throughout society, it provides a common language, common literature, considerable intellectual contributions and much comfort to people. The ideas found in Christianity motivate people to great selfless acts of kindness and giving, to defend the weaker in society, to care for the sick, to care for those who are neither kin nor friends. The Catholic church itself works to mitigate against the violence underpinning European society by promoting truces amongst Christians as well as peace and law. Most of all, the Church with all it's religious things for people to do and teaching about everything in the world offers the hope of eternal salvation for the people of Europe and simple and clear way to make sense of the world. Despite growing calls for reform both amongst the faithful and amongst bishops (not to mention amongst heretics), the Church remains the only game in town for true redemption. However, the foundations are definitely crumbling.

Here in the 15th Century Sacrum Romanum Imperium, Religion also "works". You may not like the Church, but you do believe that God acts in the world, that Saints provide aid if petitioned and that Churchmen and women have special access to direct theses for your good or ill.

Social System III: Social Status

Despite the anachronistic tendency to try and find "democracy" and "egalitarianism" in all sorts of places in the 15th Century, life is profoundly unfair. Those lucky enough to be born into the right station have it a whole lot better than those that aren't. Better access to resources, education and greater freedom of opportunity. The clearest distinctions were noble/commoner and man/woman. Simply put, nobles had ability to exploit the wealth and work of others lower down the food chain and enjoyed legal and customary privileges versus commoners. Likewise women were largely excluded (there were exceptions) from "public" life and were confined to certain roles, these roles differed according to their social station. Whatever their station, women do not enjoy all of the legal and customary protections that men do.

There is literally a "great chain of being" from high right down to low. Since God ordained it and it is thus a law of nature, any who oppose this order must be a little odd, if not outright dangerous. Still, as with the caveat at the start, there might be many ways to effectively step outside the restrictions of social status. However, you only can because people let you.

Despite life's profound unfairness, there is scope for social mobility, though not as much as you might think. Over generations, a family line might move from peasant, to wealthy peasant to peasant with tenants, to village leader, to knight, to manorial lord and then get lucky enough to get noticed and given some really big minor title by your overlord. In any one lifetime, you will not move much above your current station, those who had previously been above you will find this literally offensive and will oppose it with every fibre of their being. Though the church is often held up as a channel for advancement if you were blessed with intelligence and the right contacts, there is a suspiciously high (ie nigh universal) incidence of nobles in the ranks of the Saints, Church positions of abbot, bishop or above and even in those who get do intellectual, preaching and teaching work. Internally, the church as an organisation is heavily socially stratified with those who enter it being sorted into occupations based on their status. These occupations will, in addition to being more or less enjoyable and worthwhile of themselves, have different (or no) prospects for further advancement.

However, if you don't have social status of your own, you can always ride on someone else's coat-tails. They might let you because you are kin (see 'Kinship') or because you are useful in some way. Patronage is part of what holds society together, the powerful give benefits (offices, money, titles, gloves and so on) to those below them in return for service and so it continues down the chain reinforcing loyalties between lord and master. Patronage is not just socially beneficial, it is socially expected and if not performed, the offender will be punished in some way. However it works out in a given situation, any individual might come to enjoy quite a comfortable life full of opportunities and even a lot of power and freedom from the consequences of their actions, as long as their patron remains powerful. That's good for the patron, as their underlings know that sometimes literally their whole world depends on their Patrons success.

Here it is important to understand that this is a violent society. Not only are the nobles essentially just the biggest gangs in town and the key characteristic of males of the noble class is their possession of training and specialist equipment for warfare, those in charge do not claim any monopoly on violence. That's right, you are not going to hear anyone say "don't take the law into your own hands" here in the 15th Century. As long as your violence doesn't impact on their immediate interests, no one in power will be concerned if a group or individual chooses to mete out their own justice. Those on the top of the social order are there because they can fight to stay there, with so many gradations in the Medieval hierarchy, ultimately what is keeping "those beneath us" subordinate to their "betters" is force, and intimidation.

Social System II: Kinship

The Sacrum Romanum Imperium Germnicus has no provision for the common care of all, no old people's homes, no public hospitals, no unemployment benefits, often even scant Inns to be found. However, everyone is part of an extended family network, they have blood ties to groups of individuals that might have representatives scattered across the Empire, even beyond. Even in small communities, these families form sub-networks of their own. Blood ties are simple, clear and they count. They have been a key part of Germanic society since long before Christianity or the Roman empire and custom and social expectation placed a heavy weight on issues of kinship.

Firstly for inheritance of property and titles; Though Primogeniture (inheritance of the whole estate to the first born male or if no males the eldest female) was not a German custom, your parentage has to be clear and legitimate for you to have any customary or legal claim to any inheritance. For this reason, women must not have sex outside of marriage (it's fine for men as it does not create legal or customary inheritance issues), if they did, parentage would be unclear and it would create uncertainty. Uncertainty creates opportunity for "contests" to take place and there are all manner of greedy relatives and grasping overlords just waiting for the chance to take someone's inheritance. Here particularly kinship can be a liability, if a potential successor's legitimacy was in doubt or the main family line died without heir, a whole slew of contenders might be able to stake a claim, drawing in their allies and other kin. For all that, bastard sons did get inheritances from their fathers (lucky thing for the sons of churchmen), as they are kin and that matters a lot.

Secondly and more importantly, kinship counts for mutual aid, protection and trust. If an individual falls upon hard times their family will likely aid them, both from feelings of affection and through social obligation. This was especially important if someone has to deal with a new land or locality where they do not have a network of friends and contacts and might lack appropriate ability to access local entitlements. Here kin provides a link and a safe point for aid and introduction to a new social world, as well as a place to stay until you get a something of your own. Of course, the utility of this varies according to how far afield you kin tend to be spread, but it's fair to say that kin networks go where they were needed. This was afterall a key motive for colonisation by traders and political marriages amongst nobles. If injury or even death were the type of misfortune that befell a person, kin are still able to "help" after the fact, by providing systematic revenge, never harm someone with strong and violent kinsfolk.

Lastly and most elementally, kinship provides a clear guide to identity and belonging. It is relatively simple stable and obvious. It provides a way to simply order the world in relation to yourself. People will give a reputation, character and personality to your kinship group and that will inevitably colour how they see you as a member of it. If you don't have goals of your own, take on your father's goals, your uncle's goals or the goals of your noble house. Even if you do have goals of your own, tough, there is considerable social and familial pressure to work in your families interests. However, kinship is really a genuine plus, individuals can choose to ignore any obligations and all they usually really risk is social disapproval and gossip.

The Social System: Preamble

It is a basic principle of my games that what exactly takes place is up to the players. Since the setting is 'fully interactive', they need not ever pick up dice and simply bypass the rules entirely through careful thought (or random ideas) and simply describing what they want to do. While that won't wash for combat, we can and do go entire game sessions with players contributing heavily but never picking up their dice. What follows in this four part feature is (I hope) some useful insights into how the social worlds of the Sacrum Romanum Imperium actually function.

The Social System:

Whatever your station or birth, the three most important things in every persons' lives were kinship, social status and religion. Everyone needs food, shelter and companionship, though many deprive themselves of these for religious ends and thousands of peasants accept that they will starve to death each year. But once these simple needs are satisfied all must consider where they stand in relation to their kinfolk, their "betters" and "those beneath them" and most importantly of all, where they might stand when they come before God at judgment day... So, whatever else goes on your character sheet, have at least a brief answer to questions about these pillars of medieval identity. Still, there are those that Choose not to conform.

But first the caveat (or the first rule for looking at social interactions):

Lots of things might potentially count or be important to the matter at hand, what in fact is important only becomes "certain" (ie it's a "made up" thing) after the matter is resolved. Before that it is a kind of game or power play (often involving force) to see which elements count. After that, most involved have a stake (for one reason or another) in at least publicly accepting a version of events that legitimates what took place.... So just as there is no actual calculus to determine how kinship, social status and religion should be weighted in relation to one another, it's actually up in the air how, for instance, a legitimate female cousin's rights should be weighed against a much loved and useful bastard son. The three elements matter, how exactly they matter in any one case is open to contest.

The caveat needs to be considered in light of the "zeroeth" rule for looking at social interactions, watch what the do, not what they say about it.The Caveat cuts both ways, when trying to influence individuals, you should work to maximise uncertainty (say by giving them some reason to believe that others, possibly their superiors or kin, may take an interest in what happens) to create opportunities for outcomes which that individual might not have otherwise countenanced. then it's just strategy, try and make considerations that favour you matter the most in the interaction.

The Duke's Circle

Description: The powerful Duchy of Burgundy is a rival for France itself. It is a center of courtly culture whose fame is spread far abroad by it's minstrels. However, it is the military and political acumen of the Burgundian Dukes that maintains the thriving state independent of both France and the Empire. While the flower of Burgundian Chivalry is justly famous, but it is the shadowy network of spies and assassins, first established by Philip the Bold, that deserves credit for maintaining the delicate line the Dukes must walk with the Royal House of France. Their most infamous exploits occurred under the previous Duke, John the fearless, and include the successive kidnappings of the French Dauphin and in 1407, the shocking public "Tyrannicide" of the heir to the throne of France in the streets of the capital. The new Duke, Phillip 'the Good', has chosen to carefully husband the resources of the Duchy and pursue a more subtle policy than his father. However, only a little more than a decade after the events in Paris, all in Europe remember what the Duke's Circle are fully capable of.

Skills: Stealth, perception, thiefcraft, melee or ranged arms, statecraft

Secret Masteries:

Duke's Hand (Statecraft (etiquette) Mastery) The agent is recognised as a the hand of the Duke wherever he or she goes. The sympathetic to the Duke or who follow tales of the Duke's glorious court, willingly open their doors to provide sanctuary, relate information and provide other small forms of aid without question.

Public Example (Statecraft (etiquette) Grand Mastery) For many reasons, political conflicts unavoidably come to a head and there is no option but violence in pursuit of Duke's aims. If it comes to this, the Duke's Circle are able to commit public assassinations so bold in their manner and with such precision and timing, that the Duke is able to escape public blame or political sanction. This ability does not achieve the assassination itself, it merely allows the agent to avoid ill effect to the Duke.

Childhood Background: Burgundy

Languages: French

The Burgundian court is famed throughout Christendom for it's spectacle and exultation of the Chivalric ideal. A rich center for commerce and a beacon of culture, Burgundy is accounted one of the great European states. The Dukes of Burgundy have a strained relationship with the Royal house of France and have in the past undermined them during the events of the Hundred Years War, the the current Duke has so far refrained from any activities of this kind.

Abilities: +1 Talent Performance, Persuasion

Prologue: The Road to Ruin

After entering the employ of Stefano de Medici in Prag, Miklos, Seighard and Thom Ecke escorted him and his brother Cosimo South. They were ambushed by Hussites, many were killed and the strange Dominican Piero (who was curiously interested in what Cosimo was carrying) and his pupil fled into the woods. The companions charges were merely wounded and they to fled through the Bohmerwald, battling a supernatural foe and bitter cold of the forest.

In need of aid, they added the skills of one Hans to their number. They all then investigated the village of Schryswig, still smoldering after it had been burnt to the ground for heresy. There Hans traded recipes with a canny old lady who kept many black cats while the others tried fruitlessly to track the black cowled foreigner (with the same accent as Stefano) . On their way to hold the local lord to account for his overzealous treatment of the humble peasants, they explored a hidden cult sanctuary.

Inside the four vanquished it's guardian with Han's heretofore hidden relic and were rewarded with some arcane secrets, but were unable to carry away other treasures, including a large gilded cross, wreathed with golden roses. Rebuffed at the lord's forbidding keep, the companions and their charges made their way south coming upon the village of Rosenheim. At this village, they re-met the Hussites, led by their shaggy blond Captain, and after a ferocious clash of arms, forced the Hussites to surrender and return to Bohemia. Now the companions take their ease at Rosenheim, pondering a very odd letter, before braving the highway to Regensburg.

Continued in Chapter One: Regensburg Nights

The Brotherhood of the Golden Spurs

Description: July 13 1302 was a day that reverberated throughout the courts of Europe, a strong force of mounted French Knights and Men-at-arms were defeated in open battle by Flemish commoners on foot, armed only with with peasants weapons. The event became known as the "Battle of the Golden Spurs" after the trophies claimed from French knights by the victorious militiamen and put on display in a nearby church . Though the French nobility exacted bloody vengeance two years later, reclaiming most of the spurs, the point had been made that that heavy cavalry could no longer expect to dominate enemy foot every time they fought and the Flemish towns were permitted the concessions they sought. Not all the spurs went on display in the church that day. A network of trusted men took them for their symbol and formed a brotherhood to secure the interests of their land against powerful nobles.

Skills: Stealth, Perception, Fieldcraft, Melee arms, either Statecraft or Maneuver.

Secret Masteries

Flemish Militia (Melee arms (Staff weapons) Mastery) The Brother has mastered the techniques needed to best any mounted foe. A set spear does +2d10 (rather than 1d10) damage to charging foes (if they are mounted) and the brother gets +2 to any checks to unhorse a rider with their weapon.

Common cause (Melee arms (Staff weapons) Grand Mastery) The Brother is acclaimed as a leading man in Flemish affairs. He is awarded one of the coveted golden spurs and given access to, and sanctuary in, town halls across the low countries as well as a comfortable income, letters of credit and a fine house in his hometown.

Childhood Background: Low Countries

Languages: German, Flemish, French

The Low Countries have usually been under the sway of either the Empire of the Crown of France. However, the rising prosperity of the Flemish town communes, and some military successes by their militias, has led to some independence for their citizens form their current feudal overlords.

Abilities: +1 Talent Commerce, Melee arms.

Into the Alps

To this day, no clear record of the events in Regensburg exists.

9th February, the Year of our Lord 1420. Following the excitement of yesterday evening, Hans, Miklos, Seighard, Thom Ecke and Stefano broke their fast around the kitchen table in Brause's empty home. Han's kept idly stabbing at an onion while Thom Ecke enquired of a pensive Stefano exactly where his absent brother Cosimo might be.

Stefano gave every appearance of not having heard the question. After an odd span of complete silence, he pulled an eagle embossed bronze disk from an inside pocket and tossed it amongst the empty breakfast dishes. He fixed Seighard with a hard gaze "the inscription said that the signet to get you through that hidden door under the Jewish Quarter lies at the hidden memorial to the day Octavian became Caesar. Right?". Stefano pressed on before a startled Seighard had a chance even to nod slowly. It turned out that the Medici claimed to have some blood tie to Augustus' family line and believed that valuable family heirlooms were interred in the hidden sarcophagus on the slopes of Mt Innesfreiss.

Of course, Medici had tried and failed to gain entry in the past, but they had never had reason to have an expedition make the attempt amidst the spring snows high in the Alps. Hans pulled his blade from the onion and he and Thom Ecke engaged Stefano in a long bout of haggling around Stefano's initial offering of 15 florins apiece bounty for the return of the 'heirlooms' and another 2 florins for expenses. After much pondering of particulars of financing the expedition and planning their travel across difficult terrain in late winter, the companions persuaded Stefano to instead enter into a partnership, pay a share of expenses and they would divide what was recovered evenly, half to them, half to the Medici.

Since the overland passes were still snowed in, the company would have to make the journey up the river Inn. Nine days of hard travel under overcast sky on empty roads, few others were to be seen abroad save small parties of men at arms and other rabble of soldiery straggling north to Regensburg. The four brought their wagons and horse via the Town of Salzburg, across the river Isar at the ferry and thence to the Inn crossing. Saddle-sore, wet and cold, they embarked on a trading boat, whose Master, Manfred of Monschen, had been enjoined by Stefano's courier to await passengers. On the 17th February, the Year of our Lord 1420, they began their journey upriver, winding slowly between the snowy peaks and sailing during the meager hours of winter daylight.

On the 25th of February, sometime after the hour of Terce, the companions were moved to emerge into the cold air, from where they skulked below decks, by the cry of the bow lookout. Looking about, they could see the boat had ceased it's upriver travel and the way ahead was blocked by a heavy iron chain stretched across the water. Manfred stalked the deck cursing roundly "Rhine bandits are bad enough, but who would levy tolls on the inn river in the middle of winter? It's unheard of!". Thom Ecke followed the line of the chain off the port side up to a narrow stone tower on the far bank. A heavy Raven Banner heralded its allegiance to Louis VII, "The Bearded". Manfred was flabbergasted at this development "these lands don't even owe fealty to that black hearted swine!" The chain was anchored at it's other end at a small wooden palisade, on the near bank, to the starboard of their boat. Despite his complaints, when the hail came from the palisade demanding a toll be paid Manfred was about to give the order to heave to and pay. Offended by the temerity of this grasping Duke (little better than a Rhineland Raubritter, he was heard to mutter), Hans made to arm himself, but was stopped by Miklos' hand on his shoulder so he turned and beheld a disturbing sight.

Seighard had positioned himself by the boats bowsprit, having shoved aside a couple of crewmen and he was holding a smoking flask in one hand and was unstopering the beaker in the other hand with his mouth. Thom and Hans could only stare mutely while Miklos shook his head slowly. A hissing stream of blue and yellow sparks streamed from the Alchemist's flask, struck the middle of the chain and turned it water.

The low moan of superstitious dread that went up from the crew spurred Miklos into action. He ran to Seighrad's side, threw up his arms and yelled "rejoice good Christians, St Hildegaard has miraculously answered Seighards prayers!". For a tense moment there was silence, then the crew appeared to accept the Teutonic Knight's claims and followed Manfred's urgings to leap to the oars and get underway. Six days hard rowing brought the band and their livestock and supplies finally to Innsbruck. From there, they would strike overland to Mt Innesfreiss. Having debarked, they made provision to stable most of their mounts in the town while Seighard and Hans sought out the local Kloster attached to the church of St Hildegaard.

Seighard was fortunate indeed that Miklos was so well schooled in Theology and the lives of the Saints, the quick thinking Hungarian had linked the Alchemist to benifant acts of the local patron Saint. The monks who studied there brushed of the less learned Hans, but they were quite willing to allow a local celebrity access to their library without any fee. There Seighard found books on Saints Eugendius, Reinhold, Hildegaard and Potianus and spent his afternoon studying the life of Eugendius, the noted scripture scholar from his homeland of Switzerland.

After a good nights rest in the local Gasthaus, they loaded up some pack animals and set out alone down the snow covered westward trail. This took them around the mountainsides until they could see the distinctive forked peak of the Innsfreis in the distance, crossing worn and creaking a rope bridge, they passed beneath a silent palisade village that loomed above them on the hillside. They decided to not brave the narrow switch backed trail to the silent settlement above and instead made their way westward into the gathering snow. They might have had cause to regret that decision had not Thom Ecke spied a small shepherds cottage amongst through what was becoming a thick blizzard. Here they exchanged a keg of ale for shelter until the storm passed. The surly Franz was not good company, but was willing to provide clear directions to Mt Innesfreiss, though he knew of no structures or ruins upon its slopes.
Bidding their host goodbye after three days spent in close confines, they made a quick pace despite the shin deep snow.

They were fortunate to have some directions as, though the blizzard had passed, thick cloud blocked any distant view of their goal. Local knowledge and Thom's field craft allowed them to stay the course and after two more days slogging through snow, they came, cold wet and exhausted to shelter beneath a ruined tower and finally in sight of Mt Innesfreiss.
The tower was had long succumbed to time and was open to the sky, however its cellar remained surprisingly snug and dry. There they made camp with their animals. Hans demonstrated his rumoured ingenuity for the first time to companions when he designed and fashioned a cunning lean-to over the entrance that both block the winter wind and permitted the smoke from their fires to escape.

As they were about to set watches, they heard the low baying of wolves above the sound of the wind. Thanks to their shelter and fire the ravenous beasts were loath to approach. However, in the midst of his Compline watch, Thom Ecke's superb night vision allowed him to notice a disturbing sight. A thick red fog was slowly rolling up the hillside toward them from the valley floor. Thom awoke his companions and they resolved to douse all lights and try and avoid the fog by cutting across the hillside at right angles to the approach of the hundred yard wide bank of roiling vermillion mist. As they led their animals silently as they could, they could hear the foul and guttural sound of many men chanting over the howling wind...

The Fractious Dukes of Bavaria

Bayern-Ingolstadt (sometimes called Northern Bavaria) is centered at Ingolstadt near Regensburg and is ruled by Louis VII "The bearded". The city is a fortress surrounded by a high wall. The Dukes here have always coveted the old capital of Regensburg and always scheme to strip it of it's independent status and take it as their own capital. Louis VII had formerly been close to the Burgundian Dukes, assisting John the fearless in crushing Liege, but he has a fiery temper and is now wars with both his former allies and the other Dukes of house Wittelsbach in Bavaria. A number of the great lords of Germany, including two of Louis' cousins, the Elector-Count of Saxony and none other than the Duke of Burgundy have formed the 'Parakeet Society' to oppose the expansion of his power.

Bayern-Landshut (sometimes called Southern Bavaria) is based at the mighty fortress of Traustnitz castle overlooking the town at Landshut, over a days travel northeast of Munchen on the river Isar. Henry XVI (of the house Wittelsbach) is the current duke and is famed for his great wealth. He is also notable for his black temper and brutally supressed an uprising in Landshut in 1410. He is also constantly at odds with his cousin Louis VII, Duke of Northern Bavaria, and is a member of the Parakeet society formed to oppose his power.

Bayern-Munchen (sometimes called Upper Bavaria) is ruled by Ernst from his capital at Munchen, a town on the important bridge over the river Isar built by Henry the Lion near a monastery of Benidictine monks (Monschen is another name for the town.). Ernst is, with his cousin Henry, another member of the Parakeet society.

Duke John III "The Pitiless" has parts of his scattered possessions in Bavaria (others are in the low countries and near Burgundy). He constantly struggles with his niece Jacqueline and her husband duke John IV of Brabant for control of these territories. John has the support of the Emperor-elect Sigismund and was a close ally of the current Duke of Burgundy's father, John the Fearless. John had previously been bishop of Liege and supported John the Fearless in brutally extending his control there. He gave up his life as a man of the cloth to vie for the inheritances of his niece and is staunchly supported in this endeavor by Philip the Good, current Duke of Burgundy. Two years ago, John III married Elizabeth, Countess of Luxemburg.

Fraticelli

Description: The Fraticelli, or "Little Brothers" were first formed from the following gained by St Francis of Asissi when he rejected his former life as the heir to a rich Italian family and forsake all wealth to live simply in the countryside and build a church. Despite their ideas being similar to the rejectionist beliefs of other sects that were deemed heretical (as an obvious challenge to the social order), the Franciscans were approved by the Pope, Innocent III. This was due to the obvious piety of the Fraticelli and more importantly, their disarmingly complete and humble obedience to both the local Archbishop and the Pope. Caesarius of Speyer was the first German Provincial of the order and worked hard to gain the Fraticelli lands near the headwaters of the Rhine and Danube to the west of Bavaria. The harsh demands of the stress St Francis placed on the particular vow of absolute poverty and the demand to adopt a humble station in the world has led to ongoing splits, sects and conflicts within the brotherhood reflecting the tensions between acting as a religious order and part of the church hierarchy and and living out St Francis' example.

In Germany, the Brothers have both traditional closed monasteries separate from the world and wandering Friars in distinctive Grey habits. Both branches of the German order are noted for the presence of many particularly zealous adherents. The Grey Friars are often often directly compared to the Dominicans who are like them a new mendicant order noted for their dedication and obedience to the Church. Just as St Francis was famed for his love of gods creation and completely at home in nature, the Grey Friars are wholly at home on the dusty roads between towns and on the forest trails and lonely passes. Their practice of an "authentic" and austere brand of Christianity, along with their zeal, makes them powerful speakers which sometimes garner great followings of their own.

St Claire of Assisi was part of the Franciscans right from their earliest days and there are many Franciscan nuns and hermitess'. The simple life of egalitarian poverty a lesser focus (compared to the Dominicans) on education, though not always strictly observed in the monasteries, does provide many opportunities for of more humble station in the Franciscans.

Skills: Theology, Persuasion, Linguistics or Perception, Fieldcraft, Philtrology.

Secret Masteries

Little Brothers (Fieldcraft (Survival) Mastery) The Friar has so dedicated himself to the simple life in imitation of the early Apostles, that she is able to completely disarm religious or secular authorities with her simplicity and piety gaining +5 on all Persuasion (Influence) rolls when attempting to be allowed, along with their companions, to travel and preach freely.

All creatures great and small (Fieldcraft (Survival) Grand Mastery) Inspired by the legendary closeness of St Francis to even the smallest creatures in Gods creation, the Friar is able to use their powers of persuasion to subdue the angriest beast or insects. If they succeed as a persuasion roll at a hard (15) difficulty, any wild beast or insect (this does not include an infernal beast or one under magical domination), no matter how hungry, will cease all aggression against the Friar and her companions and let them leave freely.

A very odd letter

After fighting off the Hussites, the companions took their ease in Rosenheim, whence the villagers passed on an odd letter that the Ultraquist patrol has uplifted from some Men-at-arms who strayed too close:

Good Sir, master of any manor pursuant to this trouble.

These harrOwwing days only auger reknewed sorrows to all great and meek servant espouseing a life of Christ. Truely it sours my humble peaCe of mind, always finding herreTics where godly fArmers do till in hope of their rest in haeVen. I am greatly honoured it falls to hUmbler people in a role as an shepherd to carry forth God’s beneficiel plan for his fallen lost laMbs. To my sorrow the visit of merciless doom must today wash your demesNe clean. So a good friend of inocents needs bold saintly men to cleanse evil prOperly. Bavaria prays for aid. Our agent has the goodwill of God’s annoinTed, Clement IX, your Pope in Rome. Do not delay, sincereley gather Christ’s brAve heroes to go attack heretics and tools of demonic’s or evil men.

Dietrich von Mörs, Archbishop of Koln

The Battle of Rosenheim

When last we left our four heroes, Miklos had heard an odd crackling noise to their left down a side tunnel, they investigated and saw a crackling man shaped glowing apparition floating toward them above the water. Thom immediately recognized the smell of Lightning in the air and refused to remain and face what ever it was, Hans was more eager and approached it but was forced to drop under the water to avoid touching it as it came towards them. With Hans submerged beneath the muddy water, Miklos and Seighard quickly followed Thom's example and fled back through the tunnels. Meanwhile, the apparition floated over Hans, offering it's back to the young warrior.

He quickly came to a decision and leapt to his feet, showering water at the tunnel walls and brandished his hidden relic, the Brand of Tigrius and Eutropius. Igniting it, he smote at the unnatural menace many times, suffering much damage in consequence, before he banished it forever. His companions marveled at his wondrous treasure and expressed their relief at it's existence, fearing they could never defeated the apparition without it. The companions searched the remnants of the grotto, finding first a great ten foot high gold plated cross, all woven about with golden roses that loomed over a room also containing a raised platform and a gilded cage containing intelligent looking twittering yellow songbirds. Leaving these marvels for now, they investigated a side tunnel and found along it's walls three alcoves between two great statues: one vulture headed and Oriental in aspect and the other wearing a toga and winged statues. Along the top of the wall ran an inscription in Latin: Sumo sapienter (Choose wisely). Inspecting the alcoves, Seighard perceived a small notebook, a set of bound scrolls and a larger folio. He decided upon the folio and before his companions could react, seized it from it's resting place and eagerly inspected his prize. Disgusted at what he found, he tossed it to a surprised Hans, who upon reading it himself, was delighted to find formulae for new potions.

Deciding nothing else was of value (after a number of unsuccessful attempts to remove other items from the alcoves) the companions then scraped the gold leaf form the great cross and brought their treasure back to the entry shaft. The tried climbing up, but the gold proved impossibly heavy in their pockets, they tried hauling it up separately, no success, they even tried throwing it, but the height was too great. At a loss, the companions left the gold at the base of the shaft, hid the top of it once more and resolved to return one day with some means to make a new entrance of their own away from the magic of the grotto's entrance way.

Leaving Halgast behind, the companions made the last leg of their journey and came to the Lord's keep, looming on a ridge above the serf's fields, in the afternoon. Making their way past silent, closemouthed peasants, they companions smote upon the wooden gate. After a delay, a pot helmed head appeared at the ramparts demanding to know their business. After the companions stubbornly refused to leave in the face of constant rebuffs delivered by the the Lord's representatives, the Lord himself appeared, flanked by several men at arms bearing heavy Arbalests. He was unimpressed by their mission and demanded they quit all his lands by midnight, upon the companions rejoinder that they had religious knights amongst their number, he retorted "that the crosses of their holy orders were all that kept him from shooting them where they stood for their impertinence". Disheartened, the four took the road South to report to Stefano that there was naught more to be achieved there without much fruitless blood shed.

So they made their goodbyes to the survivors of Schryswig, and made their way quickly south through the tree lined paths of the Bayerischer Wald. After a couple of days, their journey brought them to a long valley leading down to a peaceful looking village guarded by some soldiers. Relieved to find security in German lands at last, the companions, with Stefano and Cosimo in tow, approached the houses and haled the nearest soldiers. They were greeted in oddly accented German by a snaggle toothed veteran, leering at them from beneath the rim of his helm. Suspicions aroused, Miklos cast his eyes quickly over the rest of the soldiers, they might have been the retainers or mercenaries of any lord in these troubled times... until his eye alighted on the familiar sight of a shaggy haired blond captain, bearing the a Chalice device on his tan tabard. The very same who led the Hussite ambush that caused their woodland flight in the first place.

The companions were quick to action, calling to Stefano and Cosimo to hang back, they charged in. Seighard worked first defensive, then brutally offensive alchemy while the other three charged in on horse back. They were met by a volley of gunfire from nearby houses, largely unharmed and knowing full well the gunners must now reload, the riders charged pressed through the smoke and attacked. Thom crashed straight in and engaged the still unready soldiers, Miklos wheeled in and out launching quarrels from his crossbow and Hans skirted round the flanks and began to torch the buildings where the gunners lurked, slaying the hapless men when they fled. Though the tide initially was with the companions, the shaggy blond Captain was rapidly ordering his men into a solid line and when he joined the melee, his skillfully wielded war hammer soon wounded those in reach. Unperturbed, Hans finished with the last refuge of the gunners and turned to charge the back flank of the remaining soldiers, however the other three were beginning to falter, tired, wounded and losing heart in the face of so skilled a warrior. When the Captain took stock of his losses and called for a truce, Thom and Miklos quickly agreed (Seighard again was too wounded to continue the fight) but Hans, emboldened by his successes pressed on. However, it quickly became apparent his companions could not long continue and he reluctantly acceded to the Captain's request. They would cease fighting and the Hussites would leave Bavaria.

So the remaining Hussites gathered and made to leave, when they were almost away, their leader turned and called "my name is Lional Poder, remember it well, for I know it in my heart this is not our last meeting". Then, true to Lional's promise, they made their way directly back to Bohemian lands. The villagers emerged from their hiding places and were ecstatic with joy, crying out that teh four heroes had delivered them form damnation at the hands of the ehretics. It soon emerged that the Hussites had come a week ago and occupied the village, Rosenheim since. Everyday they sent out patrols to search the surroundings. When one day a trio of a armed men came form the west claiming to be couriers, they were challenged, when they refused to surrender, they were slain and their possessions taken. The Hussites never molested the villagers, their blond Captain maintained firm discipline, but the ruthless handling of the "couriers" made even the boldest farmer to fearful to resist the Heretics. Intrigued, Stefano' had the couriers bag brought out from where the Hussites had had to leave it. It contained only a single sealed letter shrugging, he broke the seal and read it, he made a face at it's poor composition and handed it to his escorts. "You lot make sense of it, if it has any importance at all. These villagers seem friendly enough so we will pause to lick our wounds and rest before making the last few days journey...to Regensburg".

Ensiferi, the Sword Brothers of Livonia

Decription:
The Ensifiri were once an independent order, based on the Crusading Knights Templar, established to pursue the crusades in the north. The old order was founded in the year of our lord 1197 by the first Bishop of Riga, Albert. Though a crusade in the north had initially been pursued with some vigor by good Christians, that commitment waned and it became obvious that an order should be formed to continue the crusade on a permanent basis, as the other knightly orders did in the holy land. The rule and symbols of the order were those of the Knights Templar and their badge was a sword, from which came their name. The bull approving their order (Innocent III in 1202) was notable in that, unlike the other knightly orders, there was no stipulation as to the birth or station of the brother knights and membership was open to all.

This new order pursued their mission only short time, with only two Grand Masters. The first was murdered by his brother knights and the second fell in battle along with many of his fellow crusaders when the order was almost wiped out by the combined pagan forces of Lithuania and the Semigallians in 1236. The surviving knights were incorporated into the Teutonic Order as an autonomous unit, retaining all their lands, symbols and the right to govern themselves under the nominal authority of the Teutonic Grand Master.

The Ensiferi remain a potent force on the Baltic, having avoided most of the losses suffered by the rest of the Teutonic Knights. They are organised differently to the other crusading orders and do not keep so closely to their vocation as religious, being almost totally military in orientation. Having never fought in the holy land, they also do not share the high esteem in which the Knights of St John, and to a lesser extent the other orders, are held.
Devices and colours: White surcoat with a red cross. They have a red sword as their symbol and bear a red bordered shield with a red cross on a white field as their coat of arms.

Skills: Animal Handling, Melee arts, Maneuver, Military Arts or Theology, +1 LP

Secret Masteries:

Swordbrother (Melee arts (Bladed Weapons) Mastery), the novice Ensifiri is Knighted and the accorded the right to command his own Gleve (Lance) of lesser soldiers. He will be granted a sword of good quality along with armour and horses appropriate to his station. His sure presence will give +1 to defense rolls for his Gleve (any party may act as a Gleve outside of battle) when in formation.

Crusader (Melee arts (Bladed Weapons) Mastery), the Veteran Ensefiri is accorded the rank of Preceptor and command of a chapter. His order will grant him a sword of exceptional quality as badge of his high office. He will also have the right to lodging and aid anywhere in the Ordenstratte.

A quiet walk amongst the trees, (with some pauses for conversation).

When the dawn finally banished the chill from the nights uncanny events, the Medici and their escorts were left to ponder the best way to proceed. The original aim had been to strike over the high-country and completely elude the Hussites, who they reasoned would keep to roads this near to unfamiliar Bavarian lands. However, the encounter in the woods had left Stefano shaken and unsure, worse both his brother Cosimo and the Engineer Seighard were wounded grievously and they were far from skilled aid or safe rest.

It fell to Thom Ecke to restore purpose and direction and suggest the manor of his fellow "Knight", Gunther Schwarze only a days trek north. It led them away form their path, but thoughts of his brother weighing heavily upon him, Stefano readily agreed to the promise of a safe house, warm food and (so Thom had heard) a skilled healer. Gunther was away hunting when the party arrived at the three crumbling stone buildings that comprised Gunther's "Manor" but his guest Hans readily received them and quickly went to work preparing potent medicines. By the time the host finally returned with freshly killed boar, the party's wounds were cleaned and bound and a potent medicine had been imbibed by Stefano.

Having received such hospitality and skilled healing, Stefano's party were soon ready to leave. They were surprised, but quite pleased, when Hans (now outfitted in mail and spear and shield and bearing the Green Cross of his order) asked to join them while they traveled to Regensburg. Thus strengthened, the party set forth and made their way south and then up to the pass where they had intended to make their way into Bavaria proper. There, above the tree line, they saw a great plume of dirty black smoke rising atop the snow covered trees. After a little deliberation, Stefano (at Han's urging) resolved that they should investigate in case there were Christians in need of succor. Stefano and Cosimo hung back in case there was serious danger and their four escorts made their way along a muddy forest trail to where they reckoned the scene of the fire was.

Before they made it to this place, they encountered a half dozen men, dirty, armed and wearing armour and shields with some noble's sign upon them. These men stopped and their leader demanded to know what business the four had walking their master's lands. It emerged during the conversation that the six "men-at-arms" had come from where smoke marked a burning village, but would not speak much further of it and were loath for the four companions to investigate further. They would say only that they acted on the lawful authority of their lord and that the villagers were condemned by the proper "Godly" authority. Despite the men-at-arms' claims of righteousness, they gave only weak argument to Hans and Miklos' assertions that as Religious knights they should be let pass and sullenly let the four go investigate.

What they found was a small clearing in a quiet forest dotted with still smoking buildings and the odd wandering cow. No people, not live ones anyway, the bodies of dead peasants were all about. Hans was unconvinced that the area was deserted and scanned the tree-line until he spotted movement and openly approached and old man and beardless youth who were cowering. Hoping it would reassure them, he declared himself a Knight of the Order of St Lazarus, this seemed to terrify them further. His suspicions aroused he began to question them about their religious practices but was able to glean only that they traveled to another village for mass once a month and that they were possibly two ignorant or scared to recite the "Lords Prayer". Eventually he calmed them enough to discover the whereabouts of more survivors and the name o this place "Schryswig".These survivors were to be found by a small stream hidden away from the clearing. Here an old Woman (Old Lita) cooed and cradled a frankly terrified and very pale man wearing leather armour. Nearby a cauldron bubbled with a pea-green concoction and all about were black cats.

Hans immediately questioned her on religious matters in the hope of resolving his doubts about the villagers. He had no real success, Lita was obviously intelligent, could recite the "Lords Prayer" and appeared about as orthodox as a remote villager could be expected to be. Her patient was Martin, the village Shultz (headman, magistrate and contribution to the lords levies in time of war) and he he told of the recent events in gasping breaths. The local Lord's men (the local lord had little to do with them and Martin usually brought his taxes to his tower once a year on behalf of the village) came with a black cowled man, with an odd foreign accent much akin to Stefano's, who accused them of heresy. When they protested the innocence, he was enraged and ordered the men-at-arms to burn the village and every heretic in it. Once the deed was done, he made his way westward down another trail leaving only a half dozen men behind to find stragglers. Some hours later, they too left eastward towards the Lord's manse and eventually Hans, Thom, Seighard and Miklos appeared from the direction they left from.

Disgusted at the what had taken place, Miklos was eager to pursue to the black cowled foreigner and hold him to account. With this in mind he went with Thom and Seighard to lay in wait to the East to catch him when he returned while Hans sought to learn any secrets of potion brewing the old woman might impart. The three were finally to return frustrated, the mysterious foreigner and the remainder of the Lord's men-at-arms nowhere to be seen. The companions learnt the way to the Lord's manse from Martin and after consulting with Stefano and Cosimo, who were eager to remain with the villages and speak more with Lita, the rest of the party set forth to hold the Lord himself to account.

They had been informed by Martin that they could expect to find the ruins of a small village, "Halgast" not half a day's travel from the village and a mere bell from the Lord's Manse. Schryswig was a new village, but Halgast reputedly dated from the time of Roman occupation. The previous occupant of the Manse had been deeply into the occult and Halgast, with some other local villages, had been filled with his disciples. Fortunately (Lita and Matin appeared earnest when they related this) the current lord came with a writ from the Duke's court, some Dominicans and many armed men. they burnt the village, put the heretics to the sword and ejected the heretical noble from his tower and took him to the Duke's court where he was tried for witchcraft , convicted and burnt at stake in public.

When the four came to Halgast, they found is in better condition than Schryswig, most of the walls still stood and the church was almost complete, minus it's roof and shutters. Curious, Seighard went to inspect the alter, the next thing his companies knew, he was vanished from all sight. When they rushed to the alter, they found an open trapdoor and their companion falling, very slowly, down a deep pit. Once they had ensured he had reached the bottom safely and that all that awaited them seemed to be a dark corridor and ankle-deep water, they bravely followed him down.

Lit by their flickering torches, they saw a smooth walled grotto with a number of winding tunnels. The water, which reached their calves in the corridors, seemed to come from an ancient looking cylindrical milky-stone font that constantly spilled water on to floor. Curious as to what riches might lie beneath the earth, the companions explored further. Miklos heard an odd crackling noise to their left down a side tunnel, when they investigated, they saw an uncanny thing. A crackling man shaped glowing apparition floating toward them above the water. Thom immediately recognized the smell of Lightning in the air and refused to remain and face what ever it was, Hans was more eager and approached it but was forced to drop under the water to avoid touching it as it came towards them. The companions are left pondering how to deal with this sequence of events..... They have no obvious escape, what will they do?

Medici Agent

Description: The Medici are the leading family in the rich and cultured city of Florence and are leaders in introducing new forms of accounting and providing finance to the powerful across Europe. While money is a key pillar of political influence in Europe, the Medici also actively court popular support to bolster their position. Lavish parties, endowments to the arts, new churches, generosity to the poor and stirring oratory are all employed to build Medici support at home and abroad. A Medici Agent works to bolster their financial wealth and further the Medici political intrigues.

Skills:

Commerce, Linguistics, Perception or Performance, Persuasion, Statecraft.

Secret Masteries:

Influence (Statecraft (Etiquette) Mastery) The Agent can draw on the influence and contacts the Medici posses to accomplish any goal within a bureaucracy. She can have prisoners released, gain dispensations from local laws, gain appointments, find out about hidden persons etc.

Populists (Statecraft (Etiquette) Grand Mastery) The agent is given the title of Maestro and is a leader in Medici affairs. Through the support the Medic posses and their wide contacts the Maestro can engineer major events like riots, guild strikes, border conflicts and so on. Such major acts can have widespread consequences and can bring repercussions, both from outsiders and other major players within the Medici.

Imperial Politics

Preamble
The Empire is a complex web of overlapping jurisdictions. Ultimately, overlordship over the entire Sacrum Romanum Imperium rests with Sigismund, King of the Romans and Emperor-Elect. However, the practical realties of Imperial politics and the privileges enjoyed by the Universal Church or accrued by numerous local guilds and towns, privide many exceptions to this dominion. The chains of fealty do not follow a consistent pattern and a Knight might have several overlords or owe his allegiance directly to Sigismund himself. This means that while the major political players are the Dukes and other great lords, both secular and sacred, there are numerous largely independant entities of quite minor power. This lends a complex and shifting undercurrent alongside the schemeing of the great Electors. Thus, even the Emperor-Elect himself may find his plans undone by the swift emergence of a previously unseen network of minor nobles and merchants.

Electors
The title "King of the Romans" (the German Kingship) has been an elected one throughout the Empire' s history. Due to the central importance of the Electors to Imperial politics, who actually got to be an Elector was hotly contested. After all, those with the ability to uplift a lord to the highest position in the Empire were always well rewarded for their promise of support. Particular debate centered around whether the Electors should all be German nobles with the King of Bohemia making forcible claims to the Electoral dignity. All debates were resolved by the "Golden bull" of Emperor Charles IV in 1356 which fixed the number of Electors at seven and determined which nobles would hold these positions. There are three Archbishops: The Prince-Archbishop of Cologne, the Prince-Archbishop of Mainz and the Prince-Archbishop of Trier. And four Secular great lords: The Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxony, the King of Bohemia (also an elective Kingship) and the Margrave of Brandenburg.


Free Cities
Are accounted in this time as "Imperial free cities" but instead won their independence form their former overlord (usually an Archbishop) rather than purchasing it directly form the Emperor. In the case of Koln, the Archbishop (and overlord of the city) was forcibly ejected by that city's Burghers and subsequently barred from returning. This Archbishop then worked, unsuccessfully, to secure his return and retake the city by force of arms. They actually enjoy a greater degree of autonomy than the proper Imperial Free Cities as they have few direct obligations to the Emperor (they would formerly have owed these obligations to their feudal overlord, of which they now have none). They must only support crusades and maintain their own defenses.

Imperial Free Cities
These great cities have purchased their independence directly from the Emperor. Rather than being subject to a feudal overlord, the heads of the rich merchant families (Burghers) control the cities affairs directly and are subject only to the Emperor himself. All of the great cities in the German lands of the Empire have this status. In the case of Lubeck, this independence underpins the political power of a great league of merchant cities. This independence is constantly contested, it may be revoked or reconfirmed by Emperors and is always challenged by the land's great lords. They also owe the Emperor taxes and must provide military support for his campaigns.

Imperial Knight
A hereditary title and benefice (source of income, usually one or a number of manors) granted in return for service to the Emperor. These individuals are direct subjects of the Emperor.

King of the Romans
The title "King of the Romans" is held by the individual chosen by the Electors to be the new Holy Roman Emperor. This is his sole Imperial (he may also have other titles, eg :"King of Hungary") title until such a time as he is actually crowned Emperor by the Pope. this may take some time to secure (Sigismund is as yet uncrowned for a decade) and requires the Emperor-elect to personally journey to Italy to have the Iron Crown placed upon his head. In order to reduce confusion, I use the term Emperor-elect (which didn't exist in the early 15th Century) rather than "King of the Romans".

Swiss Pikemen

Switzerland
Languages: German
Abilities: +1 Talent Farming, Military arts
The confederation of Swiss Cantons remains nominally a part of the Holy Roman Empire. However, in all respects they are effectively independent despite numerous attempts by their neighbours to assert control or take lands from them. It is their well disciplined militia, raised from the free men in every community that has achieved this feat. They from large units armed with Pikes and Halberds and are the most sought after mercenaries in Europe.

Description: Must be Swiss
Swiss Pikemen were the most sought after mercenaries in Europe. They first rose to prominence through remarkable victories over powerful forces composed of Knights and then later sold their skills on battlefields throughout Europe. While the forces of the Swiss cantons often won their victories by impressive maneuver, Mercenary Pikemen were inclined to just grind down their foe with a frontal push. Despite commonly being referred to as Pikemen, they employed halberds almost as frequently as pikes.

Skills: Melee arms, Maneuvering, Military Arms, Ranged Arms, +1 LP

Secret Masteries:
Marching Pikes (Maneuvering (Footwork) Mastery) The core of successful pike combat is using formation and superior pike skill, to either out maneuver or just grind your enemy back. This was the heart of the Swiss innovation, a hundred years earlier defensive pike formations had bested Knights at Bannockburn and the Battle of the Golden spurs. However, this only succeeded if the enemy cooperated by charging the Pikes. The Swiss required no such cooperation and utilised a marching drum to keep the pike block in formation on attack. The Pikeman is recognised as a Sergeant of Pikes and is able to advance and force their opponent to give ground (one yard PDL of attack) when successfully hit, the opponent can prevent this only by beating the accuracy roll with a footwork roll of their own.

Pike Maneuver (Maneuvering (Footwork) Grand Mastery) Though the mercenary Pikemen preferred frontal attacks, the Pike styles evolved by the Canton forces were more mobile and flexible. The Pikeman is accounted a commander of Pikes and if their opponent successfully parries or blocks against an attack, they must reroll the defense due to the feints employed by the Pikeman. Opponents may evade the attack without a reroll, but must also give a yards ground.