Through the Drakwald - A Playthrough WFRP 2e

The starting adventure contained within the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2e is entitled "Through the Drakwald".  It is very simple in essence: in the aftermath of a large war, a group of player characters earns the trust of a group of villagers when the village is attacked.  News comes of the approach of a larger enemy warband which cannot conceivably be fought off, so the village is evacuated and the villagers set off with their belongings to reach a nearby city, where they can remain in safety until the danger is passed.  This post is a record of the game; comments about it will appear in an upcoming review of WFRP 2e rulebook.

There are six player characters:

Kazalin Hakgrothson (m), Dwarf Shieldbreaker

Mormacar Shadowstar (m), Elven Envoy

Gaffella Willowand (f), Halfling Hunter

Johann Hofstetter (m), Human Mercenary

Carlotta Reifsnider (f), Human Hedge Witch

Magreta Reiss (f), Human Camp Follower

Character: Kazalin Hakgrothson, Dwarf Shieldbreaker

Character Profile:

MAIN	WS	BS	S	T	AG	INT	WP	FEL
STARTING	47	28	31	41	28	31	36	23
ADVANCE	+10		+5	+5	+10		+5
CURRENT
SECONDARY	A	W	SB	TB	M	MAG	IP	FP
STARTING	1	12	3	4	3	0	0	3
ADVANCE	+1`	+2
CURRENT	2

Weapons: Dagger, Hand Weapon, Crossbow 10 bolts,

Armour: Mail Coat, Leather Jack, Leather Leggings, Shield,

Skills: Common Knowledge (Dwarfs), Dodge Blow, Navigation, Perception, Scale Sheer Surface, Shadowing, Speak Language (Khazalid), Speak Language (Reikspiel), Trade (Miner)

Talents: Coolheaded, Dwarfcraft, Grudge-born Fury, Night Vision, Orientation, Resistance to Magic, Stout-hearted, Strike Mighty Blow, Strike to Injure, Strike to Stun, Sturdy

Trappings: Shirt, Breeches, Boots, Cloak, Sling Bag/Backpack, Blanket, Wooden Cutlery Set, Wooden Tankard, Purse Grappling Hook, 10yds of Rope, Water Skin

Money: 13gc

Character: Mormacar Shadowstar, Elven Envoy

Character Profile:

MAIN	WS	BS	S	T	AG	INT	WP	FEL
STARTING	35	37	31	35	43	42*	30	35
ADVANCE	+5	+5			+5	+10	+5	+10
CURRENT		42
SECONDARY	A	W	SB	TB	M	MAG	IP	FP
STARTING	1	11	3	3	5	0	0	2
ADVANCE		+2
CURRENT

Weapons: Dagger, Hand Weapon

Armour: Leather Jack, Bow, 20 Arrows

Skills: Charm, Common Knowledge (Elves), Common Knowledge (the Wasteland), Evaluate, Gossip, Haggle, Perception, Read/Write, Secret Language (Guild Tongue) Speak Language (Eltharin), Speak Language (Reikspiel), Swim, Trade (Merchant)

Talents: Dealmaker, Excellent Vision, Night vision, Savvy, Specialist Weapon Group (Longbow)

Trappings: Shirt, Breeches, Boots, Cloak, Sling Bag/Backpack, Blanket, Wooden Cutlery Set, Wooden Tankard, Purse, 2 sets Good Craftsmanship Clothes, Writing Kit

Money: 15gc

Character: Gaffella Willowand, Halfling Hunter

Character Profile:

MAIN	WS	BS	S	T	AG	INT	WP	FEL
STARTING	20	50*	20	22	49*	26	33	42
ADVANCE		+15`		+5	+10	+5
CURRENT		55
SECONDARY	A	W	SB	TB	M	MAG	IP	FP
STARTING	1	10	2	2	4	0	0	2
ADVANCE		+3
CURRENT

Weapons: Longbow, 10 Arrows

Armour:

Skills: Academic Knowledge (Genealogy/Heraldry), Common Knowledge (Halflings), Concealment, Follow Trail, Gossip, Outdoor Survival, Perception, Search, Secret Signs (Ranger), Silent Move, Speak Language (Halfling), Speak Language (Reikspiel), Trade (Cook)

Talents: Lightning Reflexes, Marksman, Night Vision, Rapid Reload, Resistance to Chaos, Specialist Weapon Group (Longbow), Specialist Weapon Group (Sling),

Trappings: Shirt, Breeches, Boots, Cloak, Sling Bag/Backpack, Blanket, Wooden Cutlery Set, Wooden Tankard, Purse, 2 Animal Traps, Antitoxin Kit

Money: 6gc

Character: Johann Hofstetter, Human Mercenary

Character Profile:

MAIN	WS	BS	S	T	AG	INT	WP	FEL
STARTING	35	31	30	35	29	38	27	34
ADVANCE	+10	+10	+5	+5	+5		+5
CURRENT
SECONDARY	A	W	SB	TB	M	MAG	IP	FP
STARTING	1	10	3	3	5*	0	0	3
ADVANCE	+1`	+2
CURRENT	2

Weapons: Dagger, Hand Weapon, Crossbow, 10 Bolts, Shield

Armour: Medium Armour (Mail Shirt & Leather Jack)

Skills: Animal Care, Common Knowledge (Kislev), Common Knowledge (the Empire), Dodge Blow, Gossip, Haggle, Ride, Search, Secret Language (Battle Tongue), Speak Language (Reikspiel), Swim,

Talents: Disarm, Fleet-Footed, Sixth Sense, Strike Mighty Blow, Strike to Stun,

Trappings: Shirt, Breeches, Boots, Cloak, Sling Bag/Backpack, Blanket, Wooden Cutlery Set, Wooden Tankard, Purse, Healing Draught

Money: 14gc

Character: Carlotta Reifsnider, Human Hedge Witch

Character Profile:

MAIN	WS	BS	S	T	AG	INT	WP	FEL
STARTING	32	24	25	38	31	34	37	34
ADVANCE				+5	+5	+5	+10	+10
CURRENT
SECONDARY	A	W	SB	TB	M	MAG	IP	FP
STARTING	1	12	2	3	4	0	0	3
ADVANCE		+2				+1’
CURRENT						1 0

Weapons: Dagger, Hand Weapon

Armour: -

Skills: Animal Care, Channelling, Charm, Common Knowledge (the Empire), Gossip, Heal, Magical Sense, Perception, Speak Language (Reikspiel), Trade (Apothecary),

Talents: Artistic, Hedge Magic, Petty Magic (Hedge), Resistant to Magic

Trappings: Shirt, Breeches, Boots, Cloak, Sling Bag/Backpack, Blanket, Wooden Cutlery Set, Wooden Tankard, Purse

Money: 10gc

Character: Magreta Reiss, Human Camp Follower

Character Profile:

MAIN	WS	BS	S	T	AG	INT	WP	FEL
STARTING	27	34	33	30	31	34	27	41*
ADVANCE				+5	+10	+5	+5	+10`
CURRENT								46
SECONDARY	A	W	SB	TB	M	MAG	IP	FP
STARTING	1	12	3	3	4	0	0	3
ADVANCE		+2
CURRENT

Weapons: Dagger, Hand Weapon

Armour:

Skills: Common Knowledge (the Empire), Charm, Drive, Gossip+10, Haggle, Perception, Search, Sleight of Hand, Speak Language (Kislevian), Speak Language (Reikspiel), Trade (Tailor)

Talents: Dealmaker, Flee!, Seasoned Traveller, Suave

Trappings: Shirt, Breeches, Boots, Cloak, Sling Bag/Backpack, Blanket, Wooden Cutlery Set, Wooden Tankard, Purse, Trade Tools, Pouch, Tent

Money: 14gc

The party is composed of six travellers who have ganged together for protection in the confusion of the aftermath of the great Choas invasion.  They happen upon the village of Untergard, where they learn that the Graf of Middenheim is sending them a convoy of supplies, partly for relief and partly as a reward for their steadfastness in the recent struggle.  When this turns up, the local Watch commander and de facto Gauleiter, Captain Schiller makes a speech to thank both the Graf and the local inhabitants, when a small group of mutants attacks.

Six Mutants

Main Profile
WS	BS	S	T	Ag	Int	WP	Fel
31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31
Secondary Profile
A	W	SB	TB	M	Mag	IP	FP
1	11	3	3	4	0	0	0

Skills: Animal Care, Concealment, Outdoor Survival, Perception, Silent Move, Speak Language (Reikspiel)

Talents: Flee!

Weapons: Club

Mutations:

Tentacle-like Arms (+10 Grappling)

Horns and Thick Fur (Horn weapon SB-1, 1 AP/All)

Snout (Follow Trail Skill)

Three Eyes (+5 Perception)

Grossly Fat (+1W, +5S)

Tail (+5Ag)

 The attack begins with an unknown mutant firing at Captain Schiller, which misses.  The characters push the crowd towards the bridge in the middle of the village - the mutants are approaching from the other side.  A couple of the characters manage to loose off an arrow at the advancing mutants.

Gaffella fires at Mutant 1, misses; Mormacar fires at Mutant 2 misses

The fights begins in earnest around the end of the bridge - a maximum of four characters can face off with each other, so two mutants and Gaffella and Mormacar hang back, looking for opportunities to shoot or to fill in for any gap.

Mutant 1 attacks Kazalin, hits, Kazalin parries.

Mutant 2 attacks Johann, misses

Carlotta attacks Mutant 3, hits in Body; loses 4W (now 7W)

Mutant 3 attacks Carlotta, hits in Head, loses 12W (now 0)

Mutant 4 attacks Magreta

Magreta misses Mutant 4

Kazalin hits Mutant 1 in the left arm, loses 5W (now 6W); then misses

Johann hits Mutant 2 in the right arm, loses 6W (now 5W); then hits in head, loses 5W, wounded to W0

Gaffella fires at Mutant 3, hits in the left leg; takes 4W (8W)

Mormacar fires at Mutant 3 also, hits in the head, takes 5W (3W)

Mutant 1 attacks Kazalin, misses.

Mutant 2 attacks Johann, misses.

Mutant 3 moves and attacks Johann, misses.

Magret hits Mutant 4 in the head for 20W, instantly decapitated

Kazalin hits Mutant 1 in the left leg, loses 8W (-2W) leg numbed; then misses

Johann misses Mutant 2, then hits Mutant 2 in the head for 6W (-3W); ears bashed and dazed

Gaffella fires at Mutant 3, hits in the body, loses 6W (-3W); Mutant 3 down, serious internal bleeding

Margret attacks Mutant 5, hits in left arm, loses 1W (10W)

Mutant 6 runs away

Mutant 5 runs away

The characters are congratulated on their victory.  Granny Moescher, the village elder and wise-woman tends the wounded Carlotta.  Later, one of the village hunters returns to inform everyone that a large warband of Beastmen are approaching and the village cannot hope to hold out.  Captain Schiller makes the argument that the who village must be evacuated to seek refuge in Middenheim.  This sways the villagers - the PCs agree with the logic and agree to protect and be protected by the convoy.  They join the village folk and refugees moving off the next day.  Johann and Gaffella join the advance guard, Mormacar joins the rear guard.  Kazalin stays in the centre, looking out for Carlotta and to advise Captain Schiller.

The first day is uneventful. Gaffella tries hunting, but without success.  On Day Two, the Convoy avoids Grimminhagen (the village has a long-standing bitter feud with it). The group (less Carlotta and Kazalin) go to the village to warn it of the approaching Beastmen.  The group discover that the local Graf is still in his keep and that the Emperor visited the village. At dusk, noted that Granny is away. Gaffella find the trail and leads them to her. She is surrounded by Elves, but Mormacar convinces them that Granny means no harm and is who she says she is.  The PCs tell Gilmir, the Elves' leader, of the approaching Beastmen.  They depart on friendly terms.

On the Third Day, Gaffella succeeds in her hunting trip and bags two deers to share with the villagers.  Later the site of an ambush/massacre is found: it appears that a convoy of merchants and their families.  Johann, Mormacar and Kazalin assist with the bodies, all gain 1 Insanity Point.  A shield and some crossbow bolts are recovered.  Mormacar realizes that is was a group of goblins which attacked these merchants from Delberz. Father Dietrich dies in an accident.  With his dying words he asks the PCs to agree to deliver a Sigmarite icon to the temple in Middenheim - the PCs agree.  The convoy reaches the village of Immelsched in the evening (it is in the same state as Grimminhagen).  During the night it is apparent that Granny is missing once again!  The orphan children Granny was looking after tell the PCs that a Raven suddenly appeared and flew out of their tent and that Granny had been acting strangely, saying strange things to do with the Graf of Grimminhagen's persecution of her family and cowardice now.

The PCs follow the trail, find Granny around a bonfire surrounded by Dark Animal shapes: it is clear she is trying to perform some magical ritual. The PCs rush on her, doing feint attacks; her concentration breaks and the ritual is ruined.  The PC tell her that whatever it was that was upsetting her, then her duty is to the villagers and the children now.  She explains that she was carrying out a ritual which would curse the current Graf and his family, heirs to the Graf who had killed her father, for their abandoning of their people.  The PCs convince her that everyone would be best served by her dropping it.

 The journey continues uneventfully for another couple of days and they reach Middenheim in safety, the PCs receive thanks from Captain Schiller and all the refugees.