witchhunt.pdf

Witch Hunt

A scenario for Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play by Markus Widmer

Introduction

This scenario was inspired by the Salem witch-hunts of 1692. It is set in a small town

of my own design on the banks of the Iron River in Kislev. I have played it as an

intermediary adventure between the first and the second part of Something Rotten in

Kislev , but it can be used as a one-off adventure for travelling characters in any

campaign, even – with some adaptation – outside Kislev.

GM's Summary

The players arrive at a small Kislevite town called Brestislava, where the crowd is

presently cheering the burning of a witch. Shortly after this event, a young girl is

accused of witchcraft and arrested. Her father, a wealthy citizen, begs the players to

prove the innocence of his little girl, or free her with force. As the players are

investigating more seemingly innocent people are being arrested, all accused by a

girl afflicted by demons and evil spirits. Meanwhile, the High Priest of Taal arrives

from Kislev to hold court, protected by a force of the Taal-Templars. How can the

players convince the authorities that the whole thing is nothing but an intrigue of a

teenage girl whose feelings have been hurt?

The City: Brestislava

Geography

Brestislava lies on the eastern bank

of the Iron River, about 80 miles

south-east of Kislev. Much of the

dense forest typical for this region

has been cleared around

Brestislava to make room for

extensive wheat fields. Thus

Brestislava gained its wealth, and

has become one of the main

providers of wheat for the capital. A

few miles north of the town lies a

mine, which used to be a rich source of iron ore – hence the river's name. However,

the dwarven miners have depleted and left the site more than thirty years ago.

Populace

Almost 3000 people live in Brestislava. Most of them belong to the Gospodar people;

lowly peasants, who are characteristically bad-tempered, suspicious, and extremely

superstitious. The town's elite, however, consists of Norse noblemen. An exception to

this rule is the guarding force of Brestislava. The watch's captain belongs to the fierce

tribe of the Ungols, and he has collected an assortment of fellow Ungols around him,

building more of a small army than a town watch. Relations between the Norse city

council and the watch are therefore always tense, but to this day, both parties always

ended up concluding that they need each other ever so slightly more than they hate

each other.

Religion

The state cult of Taal and Rhya dominate religious affairs in Brestislava, but Ulric is

also widely revered, even rivalling Taal in times of war. Only very few citizens know

that there actually is a temple to Verena in Brestislava, consisting of a library and a

priest, whose studies are rarely ever disturbed by worshippers.

Guilds

The Merchants' Guild is dominated by the Norse land-owners, who export their wheat

to Kislev and farther. The Stevedores' Guild is quite powerful and wealthy, as well,

profiting from the heavy traffic of trading barges carrying wheat. Surprisingly, there is

still a Miners' Guild in Brestislava, apparently busy maintaining the welfare of miners'

widows, but this is only a cover for a very well-organised Thieves' Guild. There is

neither a Wizards', nor an Alchemists' Guild in Brestislava – the town's citizens are

much too superstitious to allow such sinister practises. Should a magic-wielding

character happen to stay in Brestislava for a night or two, showing off his or her

talents would certainly not be a good idea.

Places of Interest

Temple of Taal and Rhya

Set in the north-east of the town square, this is a huge, round, wooden construction,

built out of entire trunks, magically embalmed to resist fire. The inside consists of a

huge dome filled with smoke from the many ritual fires, and features a larger-than-life

statue of Taal carved out of wood. The head priest of the temple is Juri Naschtarin.

He is assisted by two more priests and four initiates.

Temple of Verena

This temple is hidden inside a run-down lower middle-class house in the dock district,

a surprisingly poor area for a temple of Verena. Yet the temple has only very few

visitors and even fewer donations – in fact, hardly any Brestislavan knows that it

exists. The temple consists of a small, but well-sorted library maintained by the priest

and librarian Miroslav Loskov.

Temple of Ulric

This temple features the castle-like construction typical for temples to the God of

War.

Town Hall

A richly adorned two-wing affair, protected by an iron fence.

The Red Crescent

This is an upper middle-class inn set right at the town square.

GM's Background Information

This scenario is not linear. Apart from the opening events, much of the plot will be

directly influenced by the action of the player characters, and thus the story can, will,

and should take turns which cannot be expected by the GM. Hence the text following

describes, firstly, the events which have led up to the present situation, then the

events which will happen one way or another irrespective of the players' actions, a

few probable courses the plot could take, and some ideas for the GM. On the other

hand, much of the information the GM needs to run the game is contained in the NPC

descriptions at the end of the scenario.

These are the events that led to the present situation: Elisabeta, the ward of citizen

Ishtan Aitmatov, notices that Olga Tschechova, their servant, is dabbling in magic.

Being of Dolgan origin, she uses her Divination skill to foretell the future to her

'clients', but is also known to put a curse on a rejected lover of a well-paying youth, or

mix more or less wholesome potions. Since both Elisabeta and Olga are rather

dominant personalities, they don't get along very well. When Olga refused to mix a

love potion for her, to be applied to Orin, the man of her dreams, Elisabeta seeks

revenge. Using all her charm and charisma, she violently accuses Olga of witchcraft.

As the watch finds every proof they need, Olga is arrested and soon sentenced to

death. Realising how much power she can wield playing with people's superstitions,

Elisabeta decides to use this possibility. Drawing along her stepsisters, she accuses

Edina, who she thinks has 'stolen' her beloved Orin. Since hysteria is already in full

swing, no proof is needed other than Elisabeta's and her friend's faked cramps and

accusations. The next victim will be Natasha Klitshkova, the herbalist, who has

caught Elisabeta stealing in her shop. If Elisabeta is allowed to go on, nobody is safe

from her, and she might actually end up believing her own lies.

The Arrival

The PCs arrive at Brestislava in the evening. Funnily enough, the town’s docks lack

the usual flock of yelling children, bustling merchants, beggar, drunkards, and even

stevedores eager to unload some cargo. Yet from the centre of the town come the

muffled noise of a huge cheering crowd, and the smell of burning. Could that have

anything to do with that huge column of black smoke issuing from the town centre?

Following the Praag Strasse, the players will arrive at the town square, where more

or less the entire population of Brestislava has gathered to watch the spectacle of a

witch being burned at the stake. Indeed, in front of the huge round wooden

construction that is the town's temple to Taal und Rhya burns a pyre in which the

charred remains of a human can still be perceived. Asking around, the PCs will be

told that the witch was a certain Olga Tschechova, a servant in the house of Ischtvan

Aitmatov.

A Strange Apprehension

Later that night, while most people still drink to the death of the evil witch, a teenage

girl is arrested by four members of the town watch. Some people, perhaps the

players, hear her scream as she is dragged to the watch barracks. Anyone trying to

interfere with her apprehension will have to face the town watch. The news spreads

quickly that another witch has been accused and apprehended; strangely enough

this is Edina Eristova, the daughter of a well-known and rather wealthy citizen.

The Assignment

Early the next morning, when the PCs are probably getting ready to leave this place

as quickly as possible, a messenger asks them to meet his master, Igor Eristov, in a

back alley. The man is desperate, and he will go as far as dropping on his knees and

pleading to the players. When the PCs meet Eristov himself, he looks even more

wretched than his servant. He begs the players to help him: "You are my only hope.

You are strangers, and you can see the truth, which is hidden to all the narrow-

minded, frenzied citizens of Brestislava. My Edina is an innocent child. Save her!

Prove her innocence! She must live!" Of course, the PCs will be rewarded, money

doesn't matter. Eristov doesn't know much about the case, only that his daughter's

accuser is a friend of hers, a certain Elisabeta, who is Ishtvan Aitmatov's ward.

Forces from the Capital

Around noon that day a richly adorned sailing ship arrives from Kislev. All Brestislava

runs to the docks, as the High Priest of the Taal cult, Vitali Dedkov, gets off his vessel

in the most pompous manner. He has been sent for by the head of the town council

to investigate further witchcraft activities following the apprehension of Olga

Tchechova. His entourage features 20 templars, members of the Brotherhood of the

Bear, dressed in imposing bearskins. Not wasting any time, the High Priest promises

the crowd at the docks to eradicate witchcraft and chaotic magic from Brestislava

with all the force needed.

Courtroom Drama

Later that day, Edina is brought before the court set up in the Town Hall. Needless to

say, she is bound and heavily guarded by four templars. The trial is public, and the

PCs will have trouble finding a seat unless they arrive an hour before its beginning.

Shortly before the hearing starts, eight templars lead four teenage girls into the hall.

According to the whispering Gospodars in the audience, these are the three

daughters of Aitmatov and his ward, Elisabeta. Enter the High Priest. He has some

trouble ruling order in the house, and then asks Elisabeta what her accusations

against Edina are. Elisabeta begins to tell a horrific tale of spirits and demons

torturing her, all whispering Edina's name. Then suddenly, she collapses in pain, and,

writhing on the floor, shouts: "Edina, what are you doing to me? Please, call back

your demons! Ah, stop! I am dying!" The three other girls join her after a few

seconds. The whole hall turns into a huge riot, the High Priest interrupts the trial and

states that the verdict will be read early the next day. An observant PC might notice a

young man, who seems to be the only one not to be shouting in joy, but in horror.

Another Apprehension

The same day, at any time you feel is right, Natasha Klitshkova is arrested in her

herb shop by the templars under a charge of witchcraft.

Lynch Mob

Towards midnight, a group of 15 Gospodar drunks gathers, lights some torches,

gathers some improvised weapons and walks towards Eristov's house to "burn out

the witch-father". The watch will not stop them. The PCs better do something, or they

might lose their employer. This should not be too difficult, however, if they can use

the particular dynamic of a lynch mob in their favour. For instance, they simply shout,

"he ran away, that way!", and the crowd will be hunting for Eristov in the wrong

direction while the PCs can take him to a secure place, like the Temple of Verena.

The Verdict

On the third day, Edina will be sentenced to die at the stake, the execution being set

for three days later. Unless, of course, the players have done something to avoid this.

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