Putting Plans in Motion
The company asks Bishop Isidore if there are maps of the basilica for them to peruse. The bishop brings them into his office and shows off the original architectural plans. The company realizes that the basilica would be an impregnable fortress, were it not for all the windows. They also discover that the lowest level of the basilica, which contains the crypts for the previous bishops, is perilously close to the sewers of Turin.
Realizing there is not much time, the company opts to divide and conquer. Garnier convinces the basilica guards to arm the pilgrims as provisional members. He then sets off with Sabina and an escort of guards to examine the crypts. Pierre and Maurice go to Turin’s Ratcatchers’ Guild, in the hopes of finding a reliable sewer guide. Renee decides to search the sewers on her own. Sir Jean-Marc and Sir Henri put their social status to good use and tell the others that they are off to warn the Baron of Turin about the impending attack.
The Ratcatchers’ Guild
Pierre and Maurice receive a courteous greeting, but only perfunctory help from the representative of the ratcatchers’ guild they speak with. He mentions that the city’s sewerjacks would be better equipped to help them navigate the sewers, but says that he might be able to spare a few apprentices to help the two with their rat problems. He scoffs when Pierre insists the rats are both great in number and nearly human in size.
Maurice and Pierre are left in the waiting room while the ratcatcher “sees what he can do.” A short time later, another ratcatcher enters, spies the unique greaves poking out from beneath Maurice’s pilgrim’s robe, and panics. Pierre watches with growing concern as she holds a frantic, whispered conversation with her colleague, gesticulating at Maurice all the while.
The first ratcatcher the pair talked to returns to them, obviously terrified, with hat in hand. He says that he was under the impression that they “had an understanding,” but that he’s perfectly happy to accommodate any changes the pair, or their superiors, demand. Maurice and Pierre realize that they have been mistaken for agents of Chaos, and that the ratcatchers have already been neutralized by promise of threat or coin. They soothe the ratcatcher with empty platitudes, beat a hasty retreat, and try to quickly locate some sewerjacks.
Renee
Renee enters the sewers via an overflow pipe that carries rainwater (and other things) out from beneath the city. She does not travel very far before she hears the familiar pinging sound of metal on stone, as well as the occasional guttural whisper. Fearful that she is about to blunder right into a skaven mining operation, she returns to the basilica with her news.
The Crypts
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| The Catacombs of Myrmidia |
Sabina and Garnier perform a careful sweep of the crypts beneath the basilica. They soon discover, to their dismay and utter lack of surprise, that there are the faint sounds of digging coming up from below. Between them, the duo locates the approximate area where they think that the undermining is taking place.
They return to the surface and bump into Renee, who tells them what she has heard in the sewers. Convinced that the skaven are on the verge of breaking through, they request that some of the guards go down into the crypts to watch over it. They also arrange for a dusting of caltrops and a cauldron of boiling water to be put in place to slow the skaven should they break through. Renee goes down with the guards to set up the defenses, while Garnier and Renee check the main level of the basilica for any other issues.
It is at this point that Sabina notices a robed man, holding a bird, standing on the roof of one of the buildings encircling the basilica’s grand square. She points this out to a guard, who quickly gathers two of his mates to take care of the problem. They disappear into the building just as the man releases his bird into the sky.
The Baron of Turin and the Grand Duke of Savoy
Sir Jean-Marc and Sir Henri are greeted pleasantly, albeit warily, by the guards at the gate of the ducal palace. They quickly summon a lesser palace functionary, who informs the two knights that Baron Janduia de Turin is currently meeting with his small council, and is not to be disturbed for any reason.
Sir Henri makes an impassioned plea, warning the palace functionary that Turin and the Shroud are in grave danger. Once the functionary realizes that she cannot simply rebuff the two knights, she reluctantly invites them in and has them wait in a finely appointed reception room while she proceeds to talk to the baron.
In the reception area is a third knight, who recognizes Sir Henri and greets him warmly. This is none other than Sir Matthias, the knight who befriended the company at Castle Carcassonne, and who is currently the owner of Ambrose, Sir Jean-Marc’s valiant steed. Sir Matthias once again thanks Sir Henri for letting him keep Ambrose, and says that he has come to Turin to pledge his service to the baron.
Sir Jean-Marc is most suspicious of Sir Matthias, in part due to the transfer of horse ownership, and in part because the man seems an identical twin of Sir Nikodemas, the Yellow Knight (and possible avatar/physical manifestation of the Chaos power that has been “helping” the company).
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| Hi! Me, Again! |
Sir Jean-Marc is taken aback when Sir Matthias immediately relinquishes ownership of Ambrose, saying that the horse has served him well, but that he wishes to reunite him with his former master. Sir Jean-Marc graciously accepts, and offers to trade Sir Matthias his current steed. Sir Matthias is a bit overawed at Sir Jean-Marc’s generosity.
While Sir Jean-Marc continues to try and figure out Sir Matthias’ allegiance and motivations, Sir Henri is escorted into the presence of Janduia de Turin. The baron and his small council are skeptical, at first, but Sir Henri’s oratory skills, and his status as a newly minted Grail Knight, swiftly sways the baron. Despite misgivings from a few members of his council, Janduia de Turin calls for his armor, his sword, and his band of loyal knights.
Janduia de Turin also asks that a messenger be sent to the city gates to warn them of possible attack. This request is conveyed to the two knights in the reception area, and Sir Matthias fairly leaps at the chance to serve the baron as a messenger.
Sir Jean-Marc realizes that, if Chaos were to try and thwart their plans, now would be the time. He insists on bearing the message to the city gates himself, and asks Sir Matthias to stay with Sir Henri and the baron. Sir Henri is confused by this, but, after some significant looks from his former mentor, he says nothing about it.
Sir Jean-Marc is given the honor of delivering the message. He rushes to the palace stables and, after sparing a moment to reunite with Ambrose, he rides out for the gates of Turin.
The Sewerjacks
Maurice and Pierre visit the sewerjacks at their guildhall. Though they plead their case as best as they can, they find that the sewerjacks do not take them seriously. Skaven aren’t real, ho ho ho ho!
Pierre continues to argue with the head sewerjack while Maurice steps outside of the guildhall to collect himself. Maurice spies a figure in familiar-looking armor standing on the roof of a church next door. The figure hurls a glass globe, which shatters at Maurice’s feet and erupts into a massive, choking cloud of poisonous smoke. Maurice, Pierre, and the sewerjacks collapse, gagging and retching, as cultists boil forth from surrounding alleyways to converge on the guildhall.
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| A Humble Sewerjack |
Ready to Boil
Renee supervises the spreading of caltrops and the boiling of the water. Just as the water starts to bubble, Renee and the guards that are with her feel the floor begin to shake…
The Enemy Appears
Sir Jean-Marc rides like the wind to the gates of Turin. All around him, the bells of the city, their ringers warned by other messengers sent by the baron, begin to sound.
Sir Jean-Marc reaches the gates and gives his message, only to find that he is almost too late.
As the gate guards muster their defenses, thick, greenish clouds roll in to obscure the sun. Morrslieb, the Chaos Moon, suddenly looms very close, a grinning skull visible on its surface. The air grows cold, and baleful lightning crackles in the sky above.
On the far side of the gates, Sir Jean-Marc beholds a curious contraption. A massive golden statue of a lion, its mouth open in a permanent roar, lumbers toward Turin. On its back, enclosed in a globe of clear crystal, is a levitating, dwarf-sized figure mummified in red bandages. The lion-shaped conveyance is escorted by a cohort of undead that crackle with blue electricity, as well as four towering warriors with metal masks adhered to their faces.
Sir Jean-Marc leaps from Turin’s wall and onto the back of Ambrose. Ambrose rears and whinnies dramatically before racing off toward the basilica.
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